Carmen Gloria Lüttges is the first woman elected to that position. From that platform, she speaks with Avobook about the prospects for Chilean avocados and the strategy to address the high domestic demand.

“Chilean fruit is the most sought after in the months when Chile is present in the markets,” commented Carmen Gloria Lüttges in an interview she gave to Avobook in July of this year, from her position as commercial manager of avocados for South America at Westfalia Fruit.

In September, she was elected as the first female president of the Chilean Hass Avocado Committee,

When he began his term, he commented that he was enthusiastically assuming the leadership of the industry, identifying the sector's progress in sustainability as key.

“Chilean production is one hundred percent irrigated using advanced technology, which puts us at the forefront compared to other countries. And currently, we are making progress in incorporating organic matter into the orchards, improving moisture retention and reducing water consumption per hectare,” he explained upon assuming his position.

From his role as a trade association representative, he speaks again with Avobook to share his assessment of the campaign that is beginning and the prospects for the business.

- What is the estimated volume of the Chilean harvest for the 2024/2025 cycle?

“We estimate that avocado production for the 2024-2025 season will reach 200,000 tons, 33% more than the previous season, making it the best in three years. This is due to improved fruit set in the orchards, thanks to better weather conditions. However, this figure will be updated as we consider the potential effects of recent weather events. We expect 55% to be destined for the domestic market. Chileans are among the world's largest consumers of Hass avocados, second only to Mexico.”

- How has the cultivated area of ​​Hass avocados evolved in Chile?

According to data from ODEPA-CIREN, avocado is the fifth most widely cultivated crop in the country, after cherries, hazelnuts, walnuts, and table grapes. There are a total of 33,010 hectares of avocado orchards distributed across the regions of Arica, Atacama, Coquimbo, Valparaíso, Metropolitan, O'Higgins, Maule, Ñuble, and Biobío. The cultivated area has fluctuated: 10 years ago, we had more than 31,700 hectares. This decreased to 30,100 by 2020. Since then, it has grown by 10%, mainly in areas not traditionally suited for these crops, such as the O'Higgins Region. This has presented a significant challenge for producers, as the climatic conditions are different from the Mediterranean environment to which this fruit has historically been associated. However, our sector is characterized by incorporating technological advancements, especially in irrigation and water use, which allow us to be resilient in the face of these situations. adverse conditions and produce world-class fruit.”

- Are there plans to diversify markets for Chilean avocados?

“Of the total exported production, Europe accounts for approximately 74%. This is followed by Latin America (mainly Argentina) with 11%; Asia, with 10%; and the United States, with 5%. While exploring other markets, such as India, the world's most populous country, could be interesting, logistical challenges must be addressed. Current transit times from Chile are 55 days. Therefore, for the time being, we do not foresee significant changes in our main export markets.”

- Which countries are emerging as potential new players in the domestic market?

“The possibility of importing Brazilian Hass avocados to the local market is currently being processed. We expect it to be ready by the end of this year. This way, during periods when Chilean fruit is out of season, Brazilian avocados will complement the Peruvian supply from March to August/September.”

- How has the combination of local production and imports influenced domestic consumption?

“A lot. Today, our sector imports a volume very similar to what it exports, mainly from Peru. These imports are key to supplying the high domestic consumption, since national production alone is not enough to meet the consumption that occurs outside of the Hass avocado season in Chile, which runs from September to May. The latest figures show that Chile consumes more than 8 kilos per capita.”

- Why did the export season start earlier?

"The export season has started earlier than last year because markets such as Asia, Europe and the United States have been short of fruit due to the drop in production in Peru."

Thus, the new president of the Chilean Avocado Committee suggests that the season could be very attractive for both domestic sales and exports. And, unlike what happens in other industries, the presence of imported fruit helps maintain consumption throughout the year, which strengthens the market and benefits all stakeholders.