Dominican Republic seeks to increase avocado exports to the U.S

The United States is the main recipient of avocado from the Dominican Republic. In 2021, exports to this destination totaled $37.46 million, which constitutes about 48% of the value of total exports of the fruit. According to Gilberto de los Santos, technical director of the Avocado Cluster of the Dominican Republic, Dominican producers could place more avocados in the US market, taking advantage of the deficit in the US, caused by the decline in exports from Mexico.

The director explained that production times should be taken advantage of to guarantee the stable supply of this market, as well as the European market, particularly France and Spain, and promote the main varieties produced by Dominicans, such as the greenskin variety. The export opportunity begins in August, when the US eliminates affiliations with growers of the same variety from the Florida area.

In addition, the country is expanding Hass avocado production, which is in high international demand.

According to Emilio Galván, the director of the Special Fund for Agricultural Development (FEDA), t

According to data from the Import and Investment Center (Cei-RD), the following varieties are grown in the Dominican Republic: greenskin, popenoe, carla, semil 34 and hass.

"There is a very rapid and significant growth in production, especially in the southern part of the country. I can say that producers in the country are enthusiastic about growing avocados. There is a large production niche and a very large plantation to produce in the coming years," the director of the FEDA stated.