Avocado is a favorite for many because it can be part of a healthy balanced diet. Moreover, most nutritionists agree that you will reap more of its benefits if you eat it daily. Not only are avocados packed with flavor but they are also very nutritious.
Why Avocados Thrive in Morocco
Even though avocado has been growing in Morocco for over 20 years, harvest in the most recent years has exceeded expectations in a big way. The first avocado orchards sprung up in the 1950s in Rabat according to a report by the California Avocado Society (CAS). Actually, Eurostat records that the first avocado exports were in 2008.
Morocco’s physical geography and climate make it an ideal place for growing tasty avocados. It experiences a Mediterranean climate along the coast and a temperate climate in the mountainous areas. The coastal lowlands enjoy hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The other avocado growing conditions in Morocco are:
- Northern and central areas are at an altitude of 800m-1500m above sea level.
- Northern and central areas enjoy 700mm-1100mm of rainfall that is well distributed throughout the year.
- Northern and central areas experience temperatures as low as 12°C and as high as 25°C.
- Northern and central areas have at least 6 hours of sunshine per day.
- Northern and central areas have medium sandy or loam soils with a pH of 5-6.
The biggest avocado producing areas in Morocco are in fertile plains along the Mediterranean coastline. Additionally, avocado trees are quickly being cultivated in the plateau between the Rif Mountains and Atlas Mountains. Areas under huge avocado cultivation are:
- Kenitra
- Rabat
- Sale
- Larache
- Tanger Assilah
- Moulay Bousselham
The three major groups of avocado can all be found in Morocco. Although, hybrids of the Mexican, Guatemalan and West Indian races are the most common in the country. There are more than 10 avocado varieties grown in Morocco according to the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INRA). Some of them include:
- Hass
- Fuerte
- Zutano
- Bacon
- Nabal
In spite of many avocado cultivars in Morocco, only a few of them are grown commercially. While Hass and Fuerte are mainly grown for export, the other types are grown for the domestic market. Here are some of the most common avocado varieties in Morocco with their characteristics:
Hass Avocado
- It has a rich, nutty flavor with buttery, creamy texture
- Its skin turns from green to purplish-black when ripe
- It is an oval-shaped fruit with rough, pebbly skin
- It is a medium to large fruit (140g–336g)
- It takes less time to mature
Fuerte Avocado
- It is a pear-shaped fruit with a smooth, leathery skin that is easy to peel
- Its skin remains green even when ripe
- It is a medium to large fruit (140g–392g)
- It has a rich, oily, creamy texture
Zutano Avocado
- It is a pear-shaped fruit with a glossy skin that is easy to peel
- Its skin remains green even when ripe
- It is medium to large fruit (170g-397g)
- Its flesh is not as creamy and has a slightly watery flavor
Bacon Avocado
- It is an oval-shaped fruit with smooth, thin, dark green skin that is fairly speckled
- Its skin remains green even when ripe
- It is medium to large in size (170g-340g)
- Its pale yellow-green flesh has a creamy texture
Avocado season in Morocco kicks in October up to April. But the bulk of the fruit is picked between November and March. The season starts off with green skin varieties and ends with one dark skin variety.
The Economics of Avocado Farming in Morocco
An avocado tree fully matures after five to seven years. A well maintained avocado tree can produce a harvest of about 500 fruits. The standard density planting in Morocco is 400 trees per hectare.
Avocado farmers in Morocco are reaping big as farm gate prices have been on the rise in recent years. Prices range depending on the type, size and supply. The average wholesale price for Hass avocado is between 30 Moroccan Dirham and 40 Moroccan Dirham per kg while for Fuerte avocado is between 20 Moroccan Dirham and 30 Moroccan Dirham per kg.
Hass is the most profitable avocado variety in Morocco. Taking into account 200,000 fruits, let us calculate the wholesale price of each Hass fruit at 7 Moroccan Dirham. The total expected return from one hectare after five years is 1.4 million Moroccan Dirham.
While taking into account 200,000 fruits, let us calculate the wholesale price of each Fuerte fruit at 5 Moroccan Dirham. The total expected return from one hectare after five years is 1 million Moroccan Dirham.
Production Volume of Avocados in Morocco
In a few years, avocado production in Morocco has expanded rapidly. According to a report by the French Agricultural Research Center for International Development (CIRAD), the country produced about 9,500 tons of avocado in 2010. Current data from the Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture stands at 53,405 tons.
In recent years, Morocco has invested in significant area expansion for avocados. About 1,500 hectares were covered by avocado orchards in 2010. CIRAD reports the area under avocado cultivation is increasing by 200 hectares to 300 hectares per annum.
Morocco’s Avocado Market Report 2023
Morocco is among the top 5 largest exporting countries in Africa. It is usually among the main avocado exporters in the world. Aside from that, more countries are opening up to avocados from Morocco.
Here are biggest importers of Morocco avocados in 2023 with their import volume.
Over the past decade, avocado exports from Morocco have enjoyed steady growth. In 2023, Morocco shipped out just above 47,000 tonnes of avocado. Although it is a slight decrease from the previous year, it is another record high since 2019.
Here is the export volume of avocados from Morocco between 2012 and 2023.
Exports of avocado from Morocco were valued at nearly 153 million US Dollars in 2023. It’s a increase from the previous year, the record high value since 2019. The sharpest climb was from 2013 to 2014 when the export value rose from about 3 million US Dollars to around 13 million US Dollars.
Here are the total values in export of avocados from Morocco between 2012 and 2023.
Exporting Avocados from Kenya
Here is a top avocado exporter in Kenya.
Freshela Exporters
Freshela is a Kenyan based company that engages in the sourcing, processing and exporting of avocados and other fresh produce.
Freshela is a proud exporter of Kenyan avocados. We source avocados from our company farm and partner farms.
We give competitive pricing to our customers and guarantee reliable delivery time.
We use a modern grading machine to achieve desired avocado weight. The fruit is also graded to eliminate any with physical quality defects.
We pack avocado fruit for both air and sea freights. All of our avocado packing is approved by FDA and is certified by HACCP Quality Assurance.