Green avocados, also known as Greenskin, can—and should—be a crop we “highlight.” It is an avocado that is consumed around the world, especially in North America, Eastern Europe, Russia, and in various ethnic markets across different regions, in addition to local consumption.
Why am I bringing this up? Because it’s a very high-yielding crop in terms of kilograms per hectare, and while prices tend to be lower than those of its “posh” cousin (the Hass avocado), it’s a variety consumed in significant quantities, with types such as Ettinger, Fuerte, and Zutano, among others. Trade in these green-skinned, late-ripening varieties accounts for about 15% of the global avocado trade, and the main producers are the Dominican Republic, Peru, Israel, and South Africa.
In addition, these varieties are widely consumed in local markets, such as in Peru, Colombia, and Brazil.
Today in Peru, they are used primarily as pollinators, not for crop production.
That said, in Peru we should promote—through industry associations—the adoption of these varieties by small and medium-sized producers, in order to supply the aforementioned markets. This would allow these producers to join the agricultural export boom, with several advantages and lower risks, in partnership with large companies that would handle the marketing of the fruit.
The advantages include, among others: lower production costs per hectare (and therefore per kilogram), high yields per hectare, a strong local market, and stable demand in importing countries.
We at AgroLeal, together with the operators of the Olmos Project, have set up a demonstration plot in the Olmos Valley (Valle Viejo) to promote certain crops—including the Greenskin— in partnership with exporters interested in marketing the fruit at a later date.
Hopefully, more and more small-scale farmers will become interested in growing this crop through cooperative arrangements, which will provide them with stable income and, as a result, a better quality of life.
