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Ugly, smaller avos as drought hits this year’s crop

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The drought has hit the avo crops badly.
The drought has hit the avo crops badly.

The current drought is set to push up avocado prices owing to a short season.

South African Avocado Growers Association chief executive, Derek Donkin, said the avocado season – which normally lasted until November – was already drawing to a close.

South Africa is generally facing rising food prices because of the El Niño phenomenon that has brought warm and dry conditions to most parts of the country since last year.

The country will, therefore, have to import tonnes of white and yellow maize. According to the Agricultural Business Chamber inflation report, food prices rose by 13.4% this year – fuelled by rises in grain products such as bread, as well as vegetable oil, vegetables, and sugar.

The South African Weather Services’ forecast shows that the country will get rain in January.

Donkin said avocado suppliers would have to import from Spain and Israel.

“South African avocado farmers have had a lot to contend with this past avo season: the drought, high temperatures and widespread hail, all of which have taken their toll on local avo crops,” Donkin said.

“As a result, this year’s avos looked a little different and were available for a much shorter period. Our avos were smaller and a little more blemished than normal. In addition, there was no out-of-season crop on the trees this year – fruit that is usually picked in October, so the season has ended early,” he added.

Donkin said suppliers would start importing avocados from November 2016 and due to huge costs in buying and shipping them from Spain and Israel, there will be a hike of avocados prices on the supermarket shelves.

Although many farmers have already reported strong flowering on their trees for the 2017 season, he said, they all agree that the success of the season will depend on how much rain is received.

“There is potential for a good crop in 2017, but this is dependent on adequate rainfall in October and November. There is a chance we could see smaller fruit again next year, with some blemishing, but as with this year’s avos, these marks won’t affect the quality of the fruit inside. Consumers can still look forward to same high quality taste and texture they have come to expect from our local avos,” Donkin said.

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