Boom in Lamb Hass avocado production marks the future of Valencian agriculture
The avocado season in the Valencian Community is drawing to a close with positive results in both production and trade, especially for the Lamb Hass variety, the region's most prominent. A significant increase in production is expected in the coming years, driven in part by lower Hass production this year, which has boosted demand for Valencian Lamb Hass.
Vicente Bayona, CEO of Tropical Bayper and sales representative for Viveros Brokaw in the region, notes that average farmgate prices for Lamb Hass olives have ranged between €2.30 and €2.60 per kilo for the largest sizes, around €2.10 for medium sizes, and €1.50 for the smallest. With nearly 4,000 hectares of production in the Valencian Community, representing more than 15% of Spanish production, approximately 50,000 new trees are expected to be planted this year, primarily of the Lamb Hass variety.
Bayona estimates that when the young trees reach their full productive potential, Lamb Hass production will exceed 10,000 tons. However, he warns about the concentration of supply within a short production window, between March and early April. Valencian avocados are presented as a local, sustainable product with guaranteed traceability, seeking to differentiate themselves from those originating in third countries.
Although more and more companies are showing interest in Valencian avocados, Bayona emphasizes the need for greater support from local distribution chains. In his opinion, the local product has great potential in large European supermarkets due to its organoleptic qualities and larger size compared to Hass avocados.
Source: Fresh Plaza