Spain's avocado consumption grows by over 1,000% in a decade

A remarkable surge in avocado consumption in Spain was observed, particularly in Mercamadrid, the country's largest and one of the most influential markets in Europe, report local media.

In 2012, a total of 3,075,105 kilograms of avocados were sold, but by 2022, this figure jumped to 45,885,295 kilograms – a growth rate of 1,392% within just ten years.

The exponential rise in avocado consumption became especially prominent in 2017 and has caught the attention of national farmers, who recognized the fruit's lucrative potential, leading many to shift from traditional subtropical crops like cherimoyas and medlars to avocado cultivation.

Andrés Góngora, the head of fruit and vegetables at COAG, highlighted the decline of cherimoyas and medlars as once-common crops in Granada and Almería. Several factors contributed to their diminished presence, including the difficulty of cultivating these fruits, their short growing season, and stagnating consumption both in Spain and their primary export market, France. As a result, the prospects for cherimoyas and medlars have become increasingly unfavorable.

It's worth noting that Peru accounts for 52.92% of avocado marketed in Mercamadrid, thus positioning itself as one of the primary suppliers of the fruit to Spain.

In addition to avocados, mangoes have experienced remarkable growth in Spain over the past decade, with an increase of 1,212%. The quantity of mangoes sold in 2012 amounted to 2,244,003 kilograms, which surged to 29,446,748 kilograms last year.

source: elconfidencialdigital.com, agraria.pe