Analysis Avocado Industry in Europe
Industry
Description of the industry and market
Mexico, the United States, Chile, South Africa, Spain and Israel are the world’s leading producers of avocados. Mexican avocado production for 2004/05 is estimated at 1.03 million tons. Chilean avocado production is forecast at 200,000 tons. Production is expected to rise for all other major producers as well, leading to a world crop of 1.45 million tons.
Mexico is the leading exporter of avocados, with exports of 135,000 tons in calendar year 2009. Chile, South Africa, Spain, Israel and France round out the top six avocado exporting countries. The leading importers of avocados are France, the United States, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom (UK), Japan, Germany and Spain.
In Michoacán, avocado comprises a complex ecological, economic and political structure.
The varied topography of the temperate region of Michoacán produces a wide range of microclimates, suitable for growing avocado almost year-round. The land tenure system is extremely heterogeneous, with an estimated 75% of the production area in private property and only 25% in the ejido or communal sector. The avocado industry's production profile is also quite heterogeneous. Of the estimated 6000 producers, only a handful of private producers have commercial operations and produce for the export market. Furthermore, orchard size varies greatly, ranging from small orchards of 1-5 hectares (both private and ejido producers) to large commercial operations of 500 hectares. In 1982, Michoacán began to export avocado to Europe, and most recently, in 1997, the United States Department of Agriculture lifted the 1917 phytosanitary ban against Mexican avocados, allowing Michoacán entrepreneurs to export avocados to the northeastern U.S. for the first time in sixty years.
The total yearly imports into Western Europe increased tenfold in the last decade from about 2,000 tons in 1966 to more than 20,000 tons. The most significant and important increase in
Description of the industry and market
Mexico, the United States, Chile, South Africa, Spain and Israel are the world’s leading producers of avocados. Mexican avocado production for 2004/05 is estimated at 1.03 million tons. Chilean avocado production is forecast at 200,000 tons. Production is expected to rise for all other major producers as well, leading to a world crop of 1.45 million tons.
Mexico is the leading exporter of avocados, with exports of 135,000 tons in calendar year 2009. Chile, South Africa, Spain, Israel and France round out the top six avocado exporting countries. The leading importers of avocados are France, the United States, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom (UK), Japan, Germany and Spain.
In Michoacán, avocado comprises a complex ecological, economic and political structure.
The varied topography of the temperate region of Michoacán produces a wide range of microclimates, suitable for growing avocado almost year-round. The land tenure system is extremely heterogeneous, with an estimated 75% of the production area in private property and only 25% in the ejido or communal sector. The avocado industry's production profile is also quite heterogeneous. Of the estimated 6000 producers, only a handful of private producers have commercial operations and produce for the export market. Furthermore, orchard size varies greatly, ranging from small orchards of 1-5 hectares (both private and ejido producers) to large commercial operations of 500 hectares. In 1982, Michoacán began to export avocado to Europe, and most recently, in 1997, the United States Department of Agriculture lifted the 1917 phytosanitary ban against Mexican avocados, allowing Michoacán entrepreneurs to export avocados to the northeastern U.S. for the first time in sixty years.
The total yearly imports into Western Europe increased tenfold in the last decade from about 2,000 tons in 1966 to more than 20,000 tons. The most significant and important increase in