Green avocados, also known as Greenskin avocados , can—and should—be a crop we focus on. This type of avocado is consumed around the world, especially in North America, Eastern Europe, Russia, and various ethnic markets in different regions, in addition to local consumption.

Why am I bringing this up? Because it's a very productive crop in terms of kilos per hectare, and while prices are usually lower than those of its close cousin (the Hass avocado), it's a variety consumed in significant quantities, with types like Ettinger, Fuerte, and Zutano, among others. The trade in these green-skinned ripening varieties represents about 15% of the global avocado trade, and the main producers are the Dominican Republic, Peru, Israel, and South Africa.

Furthermore, these are varieties with high consumption in local markets, as is the case in Peru, Colombia, and Brazil.

Today in Peru they are mainly used as pollinators, not as productive fields.

That said, in Peru we should promote—through trade associations—the transplanting of these varieties to small and medium-sized producers, in order to supply the aforementioned markets. This would allow these producers to participate in the agricultural export boom, with several advantages and lower risks, working alongside the large companies that would handle the marketing of the fruit.

The advantages include: lower production costs per hectare (and therefore per kilo), high yields per hectare, a good local market, and stable consumption in purchasing countries.

We, as AgroLeal, and together with the operators of the Olmos Project, have installed a demonstration plot in the Olmos Valley (Valle Viejo), promoting some crops —including Greenskin— in partnership with exporters interested in marketing the fruit later on.

Hopefully, more and more small producers will become interested in planting this crop in association, which will generate stability in their income and, with it, a better quality of life.

Alfredo Lira Chirif
Peru
alfredo@agroleal.pro