The start of exports from Colombia remains somewhat intermittent.

This week we've been observing the rising export figures for our beloved Colombian avocados. As we've been reporting, we now have between 50 and 60 containers leaving the country each week, with a greater share going to the European market, which has shown great interest in our product. What typically happens between weeks 35 and 45 of arrivals each year is already happening this year: the European market accounts for just over 90% of the total containers exported this year, according to our sources at the packing plants.

The distribution percentages for different sizes remain very similar, with large sizes representing 20%, medium sizes 45%, and small sizes 35%. The dollar and the euro have rebounded by approximately 3% week-over-week, which may offer some relief to exporters, but it is not yet enough to breathe easy.

Sizes, exchange rates, and field prices
The offers in the field for certified fruit are around $4,300 pesos, increasing slightly compared to the previous week, which shows the competition in the field for the fruit, let's say, the little fruit that is available at this time.

And we keep repeating our motherly advice to be careful right now and only export the fruit that's ready to ship. This way, we'll ensure the quality of our product abroad and avoid complaints and reprimands from customers at the Madrid trade fair in a month's time.

Purchase prices at the farm gate for large-sized cattle were 2% lower than the previous week, at $5,700 pesos; medium-sized cattle increased approximately 4%, reaching $4,500 pesos; and baby cattle increased 11%, reaching $3,300 pesos. These are weighted averages.

A comment this week from a major player in the sector caught my attention, and it's from this comment that we got the title of today's column: although we see that there is a better mood because there is fruit now, the operation is still very intermittent, with some risk and what we could call a competition to see who gets the fruit from the producers.

Take more care with the harvest
We've mentioned that the main competitors for this market are avocado processors, oil producers, and the domestic market in general. This puts producers in a very favorable position, as they can afford to choose who they sell their fruit to. However, it's also a crucial time for producers to pay closer attention to their harvest: harvesting only the fruit ready for shipping, diversifying their crops, and clearly defining which fruit is destined for export and which for processing.

In other words, the producer can now diversify, but it also puts to the test a culture that is not only applicable to this country: that of our brave producers, who end up selling the fruit to whoever pays them the best, taking into account the experiences of previous harvests, where they have not fared very well.

The main harvest of Colombia remains a developing story, and we will continue to tell you weekly what happens with our beloved Hass avocado.

#AvocadosFromColombia

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