Colombia could become one of the largest avocado producers

Colombia is a great avocado producer, despite international statistics not reflecting it. Nowadays it produces approximately 220,000 tonnes of various varieties. The country has between 20,000 and 22,000 hectares devoted to the crop, of which 9,000 correspond to Hass, the variety with the best prospects.

Colombia is a great avocado producer, despite international statistics not reflecting it. Nowadays it produces approximately 220,000 tonnes of various varieties. The country has between 20,000 and 22,000 hectares devoted to the crop, of which 9,000 correspond to Hass, the variety with the best prospects.

Despite these figures, the country has only recently started exporting. Why? In the recent past there were still not enough volumes to regularly meet international demand (something that is now being achieved), and plantations lacked the necessary certifications, such as GlobalGAP, to cover phytosanitary, immunity and waste treatment issues. Massive plans are currently underway to advance in this respect to enable Colombia to reach markets such as Europe, Canada and the United States, among others, in the near future.

Juan Camilo Ruiz, Executive Director of Corpoaguacate, avocado producers union of the Department of Antioquia, where most Colombian Hass avocado plantations are located, points out that a recent study published by CORPOICA (Colombian Government body in charge of agricultural research) allowed for the elaboration of a map of all the lands suitable for Hass avocado growing in the country, determining that more than 1,500,000 hectares are suitable and available for the growing of this avocado variety. This means that the potential is immense, especially considering that there are currently 400,000 hectares of the crop in the entire world.

Both Corpoaguacate and the recently created Corpohass (a national-scale entity) promote the unity of avocado producers, with an eye on the international market.

"In Colombia we have many varieties such as the Creole (or Native), Reed, Colin Red, Santana, Lorena and Choquete, among others, depending on the weather of the production area, but the crop's unification will be achieved by the Hass."

According to recent data, of every 100 avocados sold in the world, 90 are Hass and 10 are of a green skin variety, but in Colombia's domestic market, the latter are the most consumed due to lack of knowledge about the Hass, its characteristics and the country's potential for its production. This is why a series of campaigns are being carried out to promote Hass consumption.

"We believe it is important to promote domestic consumption, as we can reach a market of between 18 and 20 million consumers which any international firm would love to reach, and potentially we could obtain similar prices, or even better than those in the international market, and naturally without the risks entailed by comprehensive export logistics," explains Juan Camilo.

"In any case, I have no doubt that Colombia is the country with the greatest potential for Hass avocado growing in all of Latin America."