Dominican avocado with green skin expands horizons

Talking about avocados in international markets almost inevitably leads to the Hass variety. However, in the Dominican Republic , there is a different offering: larger fruit, skin that remains green during ripening, and varieties adapted to the country's tropical conditions.

Among them, Semil 34 and Carla stand out for their commercial importance, explains Oniel Núñez Guzmán, an agribusiness entrepreneur and general manager of Onavocados Dominicanos. Both are part of a diverse varietal structure registered by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Caribbean country.

Within this map, the Semil 34 variety holds particular significance. The study "Physicochemical and Thermal Characterization of Dominican Avocado," published in 2025 in the scientific journal Applied Sciences, places this variety at around 58% of national production and identifies it as one of the Dominican Republic's main export varieties.

Semil 34 and Carla: two windows for the Dominican offer

According to Núñez, the Semil 34 campaign takes place mainly between October and March, while Carla can extend its harvest from November to May depending on the conditions and production areas.

The characteristics of both varieties allow for a distinct commercial proposition compared to Hass. Núñez highlights the fruit's size, attractive green skin, mild flavor, and excellent shelf life as attributes most valued by buyers.

“Compared to Hass, they are perceived as a differentiated alternative, especially for customers looking for large calibers and a distinct visual presentation,” he notes.

Discovered in 1994 in the Ocoa River Valley, this variety (a Guatemalan-West Indian hybrid) has a relatively thick skin that protects the fruit during handling, packaging, and transport. Furthermore, it can be stored for several weeks under appropriate refrigerated storage conditions.

Dominican Republic accelerates its export volume

The supply of green-skinned avocados is part of a growing export industry. According to data analyzed from the National Statistics Office (ONE), Dominican avocado exports reached 74,624 tons in 2025 (US$91.3 million), representing a 17.8% increase in volume compared to the previous year.

The United States leads the way in destinations, followed by European markets such as the Netherlands, Spain , France and the United Kingdom, as well as strategic destinations in the Caribbean and Central America such as Trinidad and Tobago, Curaçao, Costa Rica and Panama.

A differentiated alternative and the challenges of positioning

Rather than competing directly with Hass avocados, the challenge for Semil 34 and Carla lies in building a recognizable category for buyers seeking different attributes. For Núñez, the great opportunity lies in communicating the product's size, creamy texture, culinary quality, and Caribbean identity.

Market education and regulatory compliance are key in this process. “Today it is not enough to produce good fruit; you have to demonstrate traceability, safety and compliance with international protocols,” warns Núñez.

Quality of arrival and challenges at origin

Logistics is another critical point. For Núñez, maintaining a reliable cold chain and proper handling during harvest and post-harvest is essential to preserving the quality upon arrival, in a context also marked by higher costs for transportation, energy, and packaging materials.

Therefore, future growth depends not only on producing more volume, but also on consolidating a brand identity around green-skinned varieties. For the Dominican Republic, Semil 34 and Carla offer the opportunity to compete in the global market not through similarity, but through differentiation.