Avocado consumption must increase to solve the glut problem

According to John Tyas, chief executive of Avocados Australia, the industry believes the only way to solve the problem of avocado glut is to increase consumption domestically and internationally.

 

Regarding the domestic market, around 80% of Australian households consume avocados but, according to John Tyas, there is still room to increase consumption. In 2021 Australians consumed around 4 kg of avocados per person, but this total could easily reach 5 to 6 kg per person.

 

Currently the lowest price in store for 1 avocado is 1.20 AUD (0.83 USD), a far cry from the record high of 3.90 AUD (2.69 USD) recorded in 2016.

 

This price is significantly lower than the price of other vegetables. Recently, iceberg lettuces were sold in stores at 10/11.99 AUD (6.90/8.27 USD), well above the usual 2.80 AUD (1.93 USD). In several areas of the country (Queensland, New South Wales) devastating floods severely affected the production of leafy greens, tomatoes and berries, causing a disruption in supplies. To these problems were added the shortage of labor and the rise in production costs (fertilizers, inputs, energy, fuel) which aggravated the drop in supply.

 

As for the international market, the Japanese market has just opened up and Avocados Australia is also looking to export to India and Thailand, as well as to develop the trade already established with Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong.