Index Fresh anticipates increasing summer volume of avocados

GRAPEVINE, Texas — Seasonally increasing Peruvian imports and the start of the Mexican hass flor loca harvest beginning in July should help expand avocado supply for Riverside, Calif.-based Index Fresh later this summer, says Susie Rea.

Avocado prices have been at elevated levels, and Rea, sales and business development representative for Index Fresh. The supply chain, in general, has been challenging, with delays at ports adding to complications for U.S. importers.

With locations in California and Texas, Index Fresh sources fruit from California, Mexico, Chile, Peru and Colombia, according to the company's website. 

With strong market conditions spurring picking, there is a chance that growers in California could finish up harvest early this year, Rea said.

Index Fresh has availability of Gem avocados from California, which has helped its customers with the lack of supply from Mexico, she said.

Despite decreased levels of retail promotion because of high prices, Rea said consumer demand for avocados has remained good. Part of that reason, she said, may be that consumers are experiencing inflation for all produce items.