Camino Viejo a Rancho Cherangueran 501, Sin Colonia, 60030 Uruapan, Mich., Mexico
How is it produced?
An avocado seed is planted which then turns into an avocado tree . An avocado tree may begin producing fruit after 3 or 4 years after planting ( EOS Date Analytics) . When a dark green avocado starts to brighten, its ready to be picked and it takes around three to eight days for a freshly picked avocado to start to ripen.
Describe the supply chain to the store shelf in Canada:
My local grocery store in Vancouver BC had Calavo avocados for purchase in mesh bags for $4.69 ( four count per bag). The sign notes “ Direct from Mexico” ( as seen on photo attached). When looking at the labeling closer it says, “ Packaged by Emablle Par: Calavo Growers 1141A Cummings Rd., Santa Paula, CA 93060″, which is in the USA. The label also notes that these are a product of Mexico. In the case of these avocados that I brought home, they were grown and harvested in Mexico but then sold to a US company in which they were shipped to the US to then be packaged and then sent to Vancouver to be sold.
What is the power balance between the producer and seller?
Distributors hold the power over the farmers. The farmers live in a country where they are able to produce this amazing fruit but are often uneducated. The big US companies can buy the avocados off of them for an offer they can refuses then re sell for more money.
Can you recommend changes to the system to improve the balance?
The Association of Avocado Exporting Producers and Packers of Mexico (APEAM) is a nonprofit civil association comprised of avocado producers and packers in Mexico. They collectively represent growers, packing houses and orchards in Mexico ( Orduna, 2020). To help changes happen in the system and to more support the farmers would be to educate the consumer. Consumers should be buying avocados that are gown, packaged and shipped from Mexico rather than having the US as a middle man.
References/Resources:
https://foodispower.org/our-food-choices/the-problem-with-avocados/ . The Problem with Avocados. Food Empowerment Project.
https://avocadosfrommexico.com/avocados/history/ . Avocados from Mexico. A History of Avocados.
https://calavo.com/. The family of Fresh. Our passion. Avocados.
https://eos.com/blog/avocado-farming/ . EOS Data Analytics. Soil and Nutrients .
https://avocadoinstitute.org/apeam-mhaia/about-apeam/ About Apeam. Jose Armando Lopez Orduna. ( 2020)