Avocado exports have performed well internationally, thanks to growing demand and the scarce availability of the fruit. While global and local export volumes have been lower than last year, demand for avocados has been growing rapidly, resulting in prices skyrocketing. According to Derek Donkin, CEO of the South African Avocado Growers’ Association (Saaga), growers have reported good prices for exports this year. “It has been a very good season in terms of price. We had a bumper crop in 2018. This year’s volumes have been lower, but so have the volumes of most other avocadogrowing regions.” The scarcity of the product, especially during the shoulder periods, coupled with good demand, has resulted in a good export season that is currently winding down. Asked about the low crop volume, Saaga said the end of September last year brought a countrywide heatwave, which had a deleterious effect on fruit, while a lot of wind during August and September also affected the harvest. “South Africa was not the only region which affected the global market. Peru, which serves both the US and European markets, also had a smaller crop this year, as did California. This under-supply definitely had a positive effect on market prices.” According to Donkin, South Africa is currently in the process of trying to gain access to the United States, the largest avocado market in the world. “We have no access to the US, but we are busy working on this. There are certain phytosanitary requirements that have to be met. It is a government-to-government process at this stage.” He said South Africa had also applied for market access to China, where there’s been a noticeable growing demand for avocados. “The Chinese are busy finalising the protocols for imports, and we hope to be able to enter this market soon.”