Avocados from Colombia: The newcomer to watch

While comparatively new to the avocado party in the U.S. — Colombia continues to grow its Hass volumes and boasts year-round supply.

“Buyers will continue to see a growing and strong supply of avocados in the market year over year,” said William Watson, managing director of the Orlando, Fla.-based Colombia Avocado Board, which formed in December 2020. “In just the past 12 months, we have more than doubled our monthly volume shipments and our total shipments for the 2021-2022 season were up 58%,” he told The Packer.

Colombia ended the 2021-2022 season with its largest shipment totals on record — shipping over 24 million pounds, according to the Colombia Avocado Board.

The South American country now has nearly 300 certified avocado orchards, across more than 9,400 hectares (about 23,228 acres) approved to grow for the U.S. and more than 400 waiting to receive their certification, says Watson. “It’s really the certified acreage that allows us to continue to increase our volume to the U.S. The trajectory of the last 12 months is exciting, as we look to likely double year-over-year volume again.” 

While Colombia has produced and distributed avocados for decades, the growth and popularity of this fruit has expanded with access to the U.S. market starting in 2018, along with expanding country infrastructure improvements, said the Colombia Avocado Board.

Colombia’s avocado story is a compelling one of farm-to-table and reclaimed national pride.

“Colombian avocados are a tropical avocado grown in tropical rainforest regions of the Andes, allowing producers to rely on Mother Nature,” said Watson, who indicated the climate translates to a lighter environmental footprint for cultivating avocados.

Watson further noted that many of the regions that were impacted by Colombia’s civil conflicts over the years, are now prime avocado growing regions.

“The avocado industry has allowed for the rebuilding of community and regional infrastructure, including roads and hospitals,” he said. “And the avocado industry provides many jobs that create a sense of pride and allow people to return to a region they once fled from, and [for which they can] once again feel country pride.” 

While Watson said the Colombia Avocado Board has yet to hone in on the promotion of specific holidays or seasons because of the newness of its program in the U.S. market, it does offer customizable programs available for retail, wholesale and foodservice buyers interested in promoting Colombia avocados.

“We don’t have a one-size-fits-all program,” said Watson. “We look for opportunities to work with each customer to develop a program most in line with their needs and what is successful for them and their market.”