The avocado harvest season on the Peruvian coast has begun with the green variety, also known as pollinating avocados. Prices are very good, even higher than current Hass avocado prices in Europe. This is an opportunity we shouldn't miss.

The varieties typically used as pollinators are Ethinger, Sutano, and Fuerte. These are highly valued in the European market, especially in Italy, Germany, and Russia. Prices rise when Hass avocados are unavailable or when regular suppliers, such as Israel and South Africa, experience harvest delays or reduced volumes. Furthermore, European consumers are rejecting Israeli fruit due to the war, creating an opportunity to market fruit from Peru.

Typically, between 3% and 7% of pollinating plants are planted in a Hass avocado orchard to improve fruit set in both quantity and quality, as their pollen is more viable. There are different theories about whether this is truly essential. In our experience, we're not entirely sure either. As an anecdote, a few years ago, the engineer in charge of the orchard took it upon himself to prune the pollinating plants after their harvest (which always comes before the Hass). This caused the flowering of the Hass avocados to be delayed and out of sync with the Hass flowering. That following season, we had record production per hectare! Even so, I wouldn't dare plant an orchard without pollinators! It's similar to the situation with bees! Are they a determining factor in fruit set? For some, they are VERY important; for others (a former neighbor), they aren't! (Or he benefited from the ones we planted). In any case, everyone should go through their own experience and make the decision that best suits them.

What I do propose is that we should always have a plot of green avocados in production—only green avocados! The yields, based on the quantity and size of the fruit, should be around 50 tons per hectare, which would ensure profitability for export, in addition to having a larger domestic market than even Hass avocados.

Every so often, when there is a lack of production from other sources, it becomes a super business.

In this regard, we are supporting the company that holds the concession for the Olmos irrigation project in seeking alternative export products for farmers in the so-called "Old Valley." We believe that green avocados are one such alternative and that producers in the "New Valley" should support this initiative so they can export these potential future crops, thus participating in the Peruvian agricultural export boom.

In conclusion, green avocados represent an opportunity we shouldn't miss. They are a profitable and sustainable business that can benefit Peruvian producers and allow them to participate in the European market.

Alfredo Lira Chirif, Peru alfredo@agroleal.pro