Saturday, December 5, 2009

Israel: Avocados Grow With No One to Pick Them

Dec 6, 2009 - Israel National News

The shortage of agriculture workers could cost the avocado industry up to 40 million shekels, as the fruit on the trees have no one to pick them. Avocado exports could drop by as much as 20 percent, says the Director of the Fruit Growers Association, Ilan Eshel, noting that there has been an ongoing backlog in fruit-picking since the beginning of the season two months ago. ... read more...

Sunday, August 16, 2009

New Zealand, Peruvian exporters look to cash in on fresh avocados, too

Aug 13, 2009 - The Packer

The prime import players in the U.S. avocado market — Mexico and Chile — sometimes have a little extra competition from producers in New Zealand and may soon have to compete with Peru. New Zealand is a fringe participant, marketing agents said, often depending on economic factors. ... read more...

Chilean avocado industry looks to bounce back

Aug 13, 2009 - The Packer

Importers of Chilean avocados are looking for a comeback this year from a freeze that took a two-year toll on shipments into the U.S.“Chile finished their season earlier this year, and it wasn’t the smallest crop ever, but way below their high of 2006,” said Avi Crane, president of Prime Produce International LLC, Orange, Calif. ... read more...

Sunday, July 26, 2009

USA: Disease devastating US avocados

July 24, 2009 - ABC Rural

A new disease of avocado trees is moving towards a major production area of the United States. Laurel wilt first appeared in the United States in 2002, and has never been found anywhere else. It's devastated the backyard avocado trees it's come into contact with, and is only 150 kilometres from South Florida's vast plantations. Professor Randy Ploetz, from the University ... read more...

Friday, July 17, 2009

USA: New marketing campaign for Mexican avos

July 14, 2009 - Fruitnet.com

The Mexican avocado industry is to introduce a new marketing campaign this winter and fall, with the aim of increasing consumption in key US states. ... read more...

Friday, July 10, 2009

USA: Inland avocado farmers facing challenge

July 10, 2009 - The Press Enterprise

In prior years, Eco Farms of Temecula employed as many as 25 workers in its fields of avocado trees. Today, that number is 12. Packing used to happen six days a week; it's three now. Like other avocado farms in southwest Riverside County, Eco Farms, which controls 800 acres in Riverside and San Diego counties, is struggling with high water prices, a lack ... read more...

UK welcomes Aussie Avocados

July 10, 2007 - abc.net.au

We don't want to give them the Ashes but we're happy to send them our avocados. More than 20 tonnes of fruit was recently shipped to the UK from five avocado growers near Bundaberg. The consignment was ... read more...

Thursday, July 9, 2009

New US import data available tomorrow!

by David Ivanovic

Stay tuned as tomorrow I’ll publish the latest US import data for May 2009. EU data will be availalbe a few weeks later.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Japan: Mexican shipments dominate the market

by David Ivanovic

In 2008, Japan imported more than 24,000 t. of avocadoes, for a CIF value of approximately US$75 millions.

japan avocado 2008

Mexico dominates the Japanese market, with 96% of total imports supplied by that origins. Other minor players, making up the balance of suppliers, include the USA, Chile and New Zealand.

USA: USDA eases pest protocols on avocados

July 2, 2009 - The Packer

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal, Plant and Health Inspection Service has amended its foreign and domestic quarantine regulations on the movement of Hass avocados. ... read more...

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Australia: WA avocado farm in limbo following MIS collapse

June 29, 2009 - abc.rural.net

Western Australia's largest avocado farm remains in limbo following the administration of Timbercorp. Holding company Jasper farms has terminated it's management contract with the MIS, for it's Busselton project, in the state's south west. But Director Neil Delroy, says the farm's future is still uncertain ... read more...

Monday, June 29, 2009

USA: Avocado grower angst still climbing after audit

June 25, 2009 - Fallbrook Bonsall Village News

Problems gripping the avocado industry haven’t eased even though a scathing state audit has faded from the headlines, workshop participants agreed last week in Fallbrook. Water shortages followed by sharp price increases, rising grove management and picking costs, declining production and a plummeting budget for marketing and research have pushed many growers to the brink of extinction, said grove owners and local leaders of the California Avocado Commission. “My investment is almost two times my return,” grumbled ... read more...

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Israel: Green gold - Avocado prices rose 21% in May

June 25, 2009 - Haaretz

The fruit supply in May was lower than expected, sending prices up by almost 15% over the previous month, according to the Agriculture Ministry. The ministry said the increase was the result of the combined effects of cuts in quotas for water for irrigation, above-normal winter temperatures and the seasonal decline in winter crops such as ... read more...

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Aussie Hass avocados hit UK shores

June 24, 2009 - fruitnet.com

Queensland-grown avocados have arrived at the Port of Felixstowe this week following 10 months of negotiations

Halls International has announced that the first container of Queensland-grown Hass avocados has arrived at the Port of Felixstowe in the UK. The move comes after 10 months of ... read more...

Australia to become 'major' avocado exporter

24 June, 2009 - abc.net.au

Avocado growers say they expect Australia's avocado industry to become a major player on the international market with the launch of a new company. The Avocado Export Company was launched last month and represents about 60 per cent of the country's growers.The company's general manager, Louis Grey, says it is expecting to ... read more...

Australia: Increase in exports keeps avocado prices up

24 June, 2009 - ABC Rural

A surge in avocado exports is easing the pressure on the domestic market, and the recently formed Avocado Export Company is taking credit. The company is made up of avocado growers from across the country who produce 60 per cent of the national crop. The company has shipped its first container of ... read more...