Butterball avocado variety, originating from South Africa
Pick n Pay, through its fresh produce suppliers, is excited about the arrival of the Butterball, a low-carbon South African avocado, while other retailers in the country have to import avocados from places like Spain, Israel and Tanzania.
Mari Viviers, head of domestic fruit and vegetable purchasing at Pick n Pay, points out that this avocado variety, available from November to January, helps alleviate the typical shortage during the summer months. This year has been particularly challenging for avocado production due to adverse weather conditions, including heat waves and a cold winter.
The absence of Butterball avocados would have posed a challenge in ensuring a sufficient supply at this time of year, Viviers points out, given that these large avocados offer better value for money, weighing almost twice as much as imported avocados, and allowing consumers to choose riper and juicier fruit.
This variety, grown by a select group of local producers, will be available at Pick n Pay until the end of January. The introduction of Butterball reinforces the chain's commitment to sourcing local produce and supporting South African products in a market where the economy has limited imports.
