Dominican avocados will have their own brand in U.S. markets.
The collective brand of “Dom Tropical Avocado from Dominican Republic” will identify avocados that were produced in the Dominican Republic and exported to the western U.S. this year, according to the Dominican Association of Exporters (Adoexpo).
As reported in El Diario, on Feb. 24, Adoexpo received the certificate of registration for this trademark from the National Office of Industrial Property (ONAPI). The first four companies to use this brand will are Agroindustria Ocoeña, AMR Agro, Exportadora Tavarez, and Grupo 33.
Elizabeth Mena, the president of Agroexpo, said there is significant consumption of the Dominican avocado in the western region of the U.S., with last year’s avocado exports to that region totaling $30.5 million.
The USDA finances the Exporta Calidad Program (PEC), through which Adoexpo is working to strengthen this brand.
The program is executed by the non-profit organization, International Executive Service Corps (IESC). This program will help promote the brand in the U.S. through participation in fairs, tastings, and digital platform promotions, among other ways, Mena said.
Avocados are one of the main agricultural exports of the Dominican Republic, which primarily grows and exports the tropical, large, green variety.
In 2019 there were 44,980 tons exported worth $61.4 million, with the U.S. being the largest destination, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture.
In 2020, from January to March, there were 16,702 tons exported worth $24.1 million.
