Fact sheet
Native to the high plateaus of Mexico, the avocado (persea americana) is the fruit of the avocado tree (15m tall tree, laurel family). Like the banana, this climacteric fruit has a wrinkled, smooth or rough skin depending on varieties and it may be round, oval, pear-shaped or elongated. Its colour ranges from light to dark green, darkening as it matures. Its yellow pulp has the consistency of butter with a hazelnut aftertaste and a large kernel in the centre.
While the most common weigh between 150 and 200g, certain exceed 1 kg (West Indian), while others are miniatures (cocktail avocados). Among the 500 varieties, the principal ones are “Fuerte” (thin, smooth skin, 200 to 400g), “Hass” (purple to black green, grainy skin, refined flavour, 150 to 300 g), “Reed” (round, rough, flexible skin, 400/500g), “Ettinger” (egg-shaped, thin, bright green skin, cream pulp, 250 to 350g). Rich in vitamin E, potassium and unsaturated lipids (good for the cardiovascular system), the avocado can be found in markets all year round.
Production and consumption
In 2008-2009, the world production totalled 3,180,000 tons, dominated by Mexico (1,150,000 tons). The principal suppliers of the EU are Spain, Israel, Chile and Mexico in winter, South Africa, Peru and Kenya in summer.
Peru (46,000 tons in 2009) dominates the supply to the EU market, ahead of Spain (45,000 tons), South Africa (40,000 tons), Israel (30,070 tons), Chile (15,900 tons) and Kenya (15,000 tons). French consumption per household grew in 2009, rising from 2.18 kg (2008) to 2.39 kg. (Sources: Cirad – revue FruiTrop / Agreste, Kantar et TNS Worldpanel par Interfel, Semmaris)
At Rungis Market
In 2009, sales of avocado at the Market represented 15,678 tons in 2009, against 11,500 tons in 2008 (+ 26.6%).
“We sell two types of varieties throughout the year, namely Hass avocado and the smooth avocado,” explains Mr Nicolas Noirot, salesman for Terragaïa. “We import all the origins available on the market from the major imports (1,200 tons from Chile, 1,200 tons from Peru and 1,000 tons from Mexico) but for strategic reasons we prefer Peru.”
