Avocados are the third edible agricultural product exported by the Dominican Republic, below cocoa and banana, respectively.
In 2021, the nation exported $77.9 million worth of the fruit, as reported by Bloomberg Linea.
In the first two months of 2022, total avocado exports stood at $19.69 million.
The U.S. is the main market for Dominican avocados, with 2021 exports totaling $37.5 million, just under half of the total exported.
Exporters are optimistic about sending more fruit to the North American market this year, taking advantage of the shortage in the U.S. as a result of the drop in exports from Mexico, but certain conditions must be met.
The technical director of the Dominican Republic’s Avocado Cluster, Gilberto de los Santos, explained that they must first locate the markets in the Eastern U.S. due to the amount of Latin population that demands avocados.
He added that production times should be taken advantage of to maintain a constant flow of supply to that market, as well as to that of Europe, especially Spain and France, and to promote the main varieties produced by the country.
De los Santos stressed that the “green skin” variety is the main one produced in the country, and that its export opportunity begins in August when the U.S. eliminates the affiliations it has with producers of the same variety in the Florida area.
“We are expanding the production of the Hass variety, as a result of the international demand for it. Although the green skin has increased,” he said.
Meanwhile, the director of the Special Fund for Agricultural Development (FEDA), Emilio Galvan, explained that for several years the Caribbean country has taken steps to develop production as a way to be competitive in the international market.
“There is a very rapid and significant growth, especially in the southern part of the country. I can say that avocado cultivation is the most encouraged in the country, since there is a large producing niche and a very large plantation to produce in the next few years,” said Galvan.
