Avocado sales for 2019 spring holidays — Easter, Cinco de Mayo and Memorial Day — saw increases of at least 6% over 2018 numbers for the second-quarter holidays.
Cinco de Mayo, which posted avocado sales of $64 million, easily bested Super Bowl sales, which had $56 million in sales this year. Although those two events typically battle each other for top avocado sales, Memorial Day sales this year hit $57 million, slightly above the Super Bowl sales period, according to the Hass Avocado Board’s quarterly holiday report.
Cinco de Mayo sales have grown 58% since 2016, compared to the Super Bowl’s growth in the same time period of a 27% gain.
“Cinco de Mayo has traditionally been associated with avocados,” Emiliano Escobedo, executive director of the HAB. “Shoppers are recognizing the versatility and nutritional value of hass avocados, which is helping increase sales during nontraditional avocado holidays.”
Sales in week leading to Easter were $54 million, according to the HAB, which is a 47% increase since 2016.
“The holidays are a great time to promote avocados at retail as they make a delicious and healthy addition to every dish and celebration,” Escobedo said in the release.
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