Westfalia Fruit Group, the Oxnard, Calif.-based avocado grower, handler and distributer has announced the start of its Colombian Hass avocado season with supply available now through late spring of 2023, according to a release.
The company planted its first avocado orchards in Colombia in 2015. This ideal climate receives adequate rainfall, so much so that irrigation or additional water intake outside of the regional precipitation is not required. This is just one of the many ways Westfalia utilizes sustainable growing practices, the company said.
“The nurturing growing conditions, steep terrain, and beautiful soils are what make growing in Colombia so unique,” Duncan Smith, technical manager at Westfalia Fruit, said. The naturally vigorous growth and good bearing ability of the trees is promoted by the excellent growing conditions and good rains each year.”
The Colombian operation includes state-of-the-art pack houses and storage facilities that ensure consistent supply and product quality throughout the Colombian season from May through late spring of the following year, according to the company.
The company grows Hass avocados in the Sonsón region of Colombia using, what it describes as, “groundbreaking” clonal rootstock technology. The unique climate of Colombia helps create consistency in size and optimal yield all season long, said the company, which forecasts an increased utilization of the clonal planting for Colombian avocados.
“Colombia is an exciting cultivation region for Westfalia,” David Fausset, business development director, said. “We have created a world-class integrated supply chain and we are thrilled to offer this quality fruit program as a commercial advantage to our customers.”
Westfalia also said it has implemented robust environmental, food safety and quality systems to continuously monitor, protect and preserve the supply chain and natural resources in its cultivation area, including soil, forests and water.
Established over 70 years ago, Westfalia markets ready-to-eat avocados across the globe through its vertically integrated supply chain.
