Florida avocado shippers expect to harvest smaller volumes during the latter part of their season.
Peak Florida volumes are July and August although the region continues to ship fruit through February. Late season loadings will be 10% lighter than earlier season shipments.
Overall, the deal, which typically begins in early June, is expecting to ship about 1 million bushels, lower than last year’s 1.2 million bushels
Avocado Imports
Chilean avocado shipments to the U.S. should be light again this season as they were in 2014-15 season.
It was September before any Chilean avocado imports reached the U.S. About 1.1 million pounds of Chilean avocados arrived the week of Sept. 6, with 3.3 million pounds expected the week of Oct. 4 and 4.7 million boxes the week of Oct. 18.
But even when Chilean volumes hit 4.7 million boxes, they will be dwarfed by an estimated 37 million boxes that week from Mexico. with the vast majority of it crossing into South Texas. The Chileans have developed a good domestic market for avocados and have been exported more to Europe.
Mexican volumes, primarily crossing the U.S./Mexico border at McAllen, TX, will be huge throughout the season. California is expecting a big crop in its upcoming season.
In August, Mexico shipped about twice as many avocados as it did in August 2014, with September volumes forecast to be up 50%.
By the end of 2015, a projected 2.1 billion pounds of avocados will have shipped in the U.S., 14% more than last year. And with the massive growth in Mexico, shippers can meet demand even if Chile winds up taking another largely hands-off approach to the U.S. market this season.
Mexican fruit and vegetable imports through South Texas – grossing about $2100 to Atlanta.