Proc. of Second World Avocado Congress 1992 p. 615
Production and Demand
for Chilean Avocados: Domestic and Export Markets
Norma Sepulveda and L. Antonio Lizana
Centre de Estudios
Postcosecha (CEPOC), Universidad de Chile, Casilla 1004, Santiago, Chile
Abstract. Chile is a traditional avocado producer, the fruit being grown in
microclimate areas of the Central Valley. The commercial avocado production
started around 1950 with the introduction of the so called "California cultivars" of higher fruit quality
and higher yields.
The per
capita consumption of avocados has increased to reach today one of the highest
in the world. This is attributed to: (i) different cultivars of both Mexican
and Guatemalan races that account for the availability of avocado fruit all
year round; (ii) the good growing conditions and postharvest handling that
present good quality fruit at the market; (iii) the price of avocado fruit
relative to the other substitute products; and (iv) the many different uses
that the avocado fruit has in the Chilean food diet.
The
objective of this work was to quantify and evaluate the avocado domestic demand
in relation to export possibilities to the U.S.A., French, and Argentine
markets.
The
methodology that uses analytical aspects of time series was utilized for the
following variables: acreage, yield (by cultivar, month, and year), wholesale
and retail prices, Chilean exports, per capita consumption, and prices at the
New York, Paris, and Buenos Aires markets. Return prices to growers for domestic
and export sales was analyzed.
The results
showed marked differences among cultivars, sales time, and market objective. It
was determined that the main volume goes to the domestic market due to the high
prices and constant demand for avocado fruit by Chilean consumers.