(English) Is the avocado the new El Dorado ?

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First European producer (way ahead of Greece and France), Spain increases its production of avocados every year, always adjusting to the demand and to the spectacular consumption growth of this fruit: in Europe, in only 10 years, it has been multiplied by three and the perspectives for the years to come creates total panic within the professionals.

The main production zone in Spain is located in the region of Malaga, more precisely in l’Axarquía. But these last few years, the cultivation of the avocado has spread along the Andalusian and Mediterranean coasts, all the way up to the region of Valencia. Introduced in Europe by “the Conquistadores”, the avocado has gone from the status of exotic fruit to a daily product. Today, Spain cultivates it on approximatively 15 000Ha against 10 000Ha only five years ago.

These last few years, the Spanish growers have thus intensified their production, but Greece, Italy and Portugal have carried out new projects that imitate the successful model of Andalucía therefore adopting the healthy lifestyle trend that the avocado incarnates to perfection: anti-inflammatory; full of fibres; of vitamins C, E and K; has a positive impact on blood sugar; and its vegetal fat is known to lower the bad cholesterol. Super-easy to prepare (there is no need to cook it!), it wonderfully completes and accompanies many dishes, from a simple salad to sushis by way of smoothies or on toast.

In Valencia’s region, the cost-effectiveness crisis that hits the sector of the citrus fruits has led numerous farmers to opt for this production, which is more profitable, since the price by kilogramme can sometimes be five times superior to 1kg of mandarins. But higher production costs unfortunately  create a high environmental impact: the avocado tree needs tremendous amounts of water and thus irrigation, in regions often already suffering from water shortages.

The vast market of the avocado whets the appetite and has become ultra-competitive with big producers such as Mexico, the Dominican Republic or countries which massively export to Europe being closer such as Israel and Morocco, increasing the offer and thus making prices very competitive as is the current situation.