Week 13 and Colombia capitalizes on lessons learned. As we've been saying—with that motherly nagging that's so necessary—as a result of the problems, the country has been learning to take care of its avocado export channel, our beloved Hass #AvocadosfromColombia.

We have enjoyed a relatively stable environment: export volumes have held steady, and the European market has shown consistency over the last three months, with just over 90 containers currently being shipped weekly to that destination. All indications are that this could hold for another couple of weeks before we begin to see a sharper drop in prices with the arrivals from Peru.

There has been a noticeable increase in awareness among packing companies regarding key aspects: fruit selection, size, residual effects, and quality. This is reflected in the results of the first quarter of the year. However, we cannot declare victory yet. There is still much work to be done regarding the heterogeneity of our Hass avocados #avocadosfromColombia.

The European continent continues to account for the majority of exported fruit. As we've discussed in previous weeks, the United States has yet to show clear signs of reopening. There's still talk of a possible opening in May, but for now, it remains more of an expectation than a reality.

In the field, prices remain relatively stable, averaging around 4,300 pesos per kilo, which may be benefiting producers who currently have fruit available. Regarding size distribution, we observed approximately 15% large, 50% medium, and 30% small.

Prices, considering the best quality fruit with all certifications, average 5,300 pesos for large sizes, 4,300 for medium sizes, and 2,800 for small sizes.

The weather remains the most important factor. It dictates the post-harvest behavior and quality of the fruit, both this season and in those to come.

On the logistical side, challenges persist: a shortage of refrigerated containers, frequent rollovers, and a geopolitical environment that doesn't necessarily help.

We continue, then, to capitalize on what we've learned. We'll have to see how our courageous producers react during this challenging season and what signs the next main harvest begins to show.

Jorge Molina Duque
Operations Manager, Quality Studio CO
jorge.molina@qualitystudio.cl
Colombia