ProHass President Juan Carlos Paredes expressed the current outlook for avocado production in Peru, mentioning a possible decrease in the amount of fruit from the country, while others such as Mexico, Colombia, Spain and Chile also face challenges in their supply.

Paredes indicated that, despite initial predictions of an El Niño climate event, these forecasts are moderating, which could mitigate its negative impact on avocado production. He emphasized the importance of monitoring the weather to counteract potential negative effects and prepare adequately to address them.

Regarding the challenges of the coming year, the president of ProHass noted that the avocado industry in Peru is currently experiencing a situation where past prices are no longer viable, so the focus is on improving efficiency in cultivation and production. He also mentioned the importance of exploring alternative market windows to avoid relying solely on the peak production period from May to August.

He also emphasized the growth of Peruvian production across different seasons, which would help diversify the country's supply. He highlighted critical issues such as cadmium levels and residues exceeding maximum permitted limits for agrochemicals, and stressed the importance of properly managing fruit loads on trees to avoid impacting marketable sizes.

Regarding quality, Paredes mentioned ProHass's collaboration with Senasa to inspect the avocado's dry matter content, thus ensuring a quality shipment and preventing potential problems. However, he acknowledged challenges such as the political crisis, which has affected the efficiency of some inspectors and packers.

Paredes stressed the importance of strengthening Senasa's authority to sanction those places that do not comply with standards, highlighting the need for effective management and control to avoid inadequate practices in the production and shipment of avocados in the country.

Source: https://agraria.pe/noticias/desafios-para-la-industria-de-la-palta-el-2024-34279