Mexico, undisputed leader in avocado

Mexico is the only place where this fruit is available all year round.

The Mexican Association of Producers and Exporting Packers, APEAM, A.C., was founded in 1997 with the task of organising the production and packing sectors to further the exports of a world-class product, namely Mexican avocado.

The Association currently comprises more than 19,000 producers and 46 packing businesses exporting to the USA. Thanks to APEAM, A.C., international markets can have direct access to this delicious product, safe in the knowledge that they are acquiring fresh, delicious and nutritive fruit, which is also safe, in line with the most stringent export standards.

José Armando Lopez Orduña, CEO of AEPAM, A.C. explains.

“Our mission is to conquer international markets for Mexican avocado, maintaining sustainable development of our fruit through unity, equity and teamwork of all the producers and packer-exporters in the country. We apply best practices in the cultivation, harvesting, manufacturing and transportation of this value chain, while engaging in ongoing scientific research on issues of productivity, health and safety.”

Avocado has tremendous value in the lives of Mexicans, especially for Michoacan, the main producing area of the country and worldwide. In total there are 160,000 ha in cultivation, of which 111,000 are certified for shipping to the US.

US the main market

The US is where the Mexican avocado industry, through its own marketing company based in Dallas, Texas (Avocados from Mexico, Inc.), draws up all its marketing, promotion and advertising strategies for Mexican avocado, designed to develop and boost consumption of the Hass category avocado. AFM, Inc. is the strategic merger between MHAIA (Mexican Hass Avocado Importers Association) and APEAM, A.C. It was set up to engage in promotion, advertising, public relations and research for all parties interested in Mexican avocado.

According to AFM CEOs Alvaro Luque and Michael Browne,

“The Avocados from Mexico marketing team has been working tirelessly to build up a sustainable demand throughout the US.” The news from USDA on expansion and acceptance of new producer regions ensures supplies of fresh avocados from several Mexican states, which will help build up future stocks and raise the category of Hass avocado. So, Mexican avocados continue to conquer the palate of consumers worldwide.

This article appeared in edition 145 (Sep-Oct 2016) of Eurofresh Distribution magazine. Read more in that issue here.