Ed Bedington
A good season is being forecast by South African avocado growers, despite a slight drop in crop volume this year.
The South African Avocado Growers' Association estimates exports will reach 9.5 million cartons this season compared with 10.6 million last year.
SAAGA general manager Derek Donkin said weather conditions had been dry and incidence of disease low, so fruit quality was excellent.
The first significant volumes should start arriving in the UK by mid April. SAAGA expects to export around 35% of the 9.5 million crop to the UK.
Werner Seele, chairman of SAAGA, and Nick Reay, now in the role of past chairman, said they were seeing real growth in demand in the UK for ripe and ready packs of avocados.
"Ripe and ready has been growing steadily, at about 25% in volume year-on-year and we expect it to increase by a third this year," said Reay.
He also reported a significant increase in demand for the Hass variety in the UK.
"Demand for the variety has doubled over the last five years. There has been a real shift by consumers towards it, most of which has been driven by the retailers." SAAGA expect demand for Hass to continue growing 15% year-on-year.
The group will also continue to stimulate demand with promotional activitiy operated by Richmond Towers in the UK, and continuing with the focus on avocados as a summer fruit.
Richmond Towers chief executive Roger Jupe said: "We have a multitude of plans in hand and will be launching a Summer Avocado Diet."
Designed by The Sun's diet columnist Sally Ann Voak, the diet is claimed to enable consumers to lose at least 10lbs in a month.
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A good season is being forecast by South African avocado growers, despite a slight drop in crop volume this year.
The South African Avocado Growers' Association estimates exports will reach 9.5 million cartons this season compared with 10.6 million last year.
SAAGA general manager Derek Donkin said weather conditions had been dry and incidence of disease low, so fruit quality was excellent.
The first significant volumes should start arriving in the UK by mid April. SAAGA expects to export around 35% of the 9.5 million crop to the UK.
Werner Seele, chairman of SAAGA, and Nick Reay, now in the role of past chairman, said they were seeing real growth in demand in the UK for ripe and ready packs of avocados.
"Ripe and ready has been growing steadily, at about 25% in volume year-on-year and we expect it to increase by a third this year," said Reay.
He also reported a significant increase in demand for the Hass variety in the UK.
"Demand for the variety has doubled over the last five years. There has been a real shift by consumers towards it, most of which has been driven by the retailers." SAAGA expect demand for Hass to continue growing 15% year-on-year.
The group will also continue to stimulate demand with promotional activitiy operated by Richmond Towers in the UK, and continuing with the focus on avocados as a summer fruit.
Richmond Towers chief executive Roger Jupe said: "We have a multitude of plans in hand and will be launching a Summer Avocado Diet."
Designed by The Sun's diet columnist Sally Ann Voak, the diet is claimed to enable consumers to lose at least 10lbs in a month.
{{MARKET EDGE }}
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