Avocados are popular all over the globe because they have delighted people’s taste buds for years. Not only are they known for their nutty flavor but also their creamy texture. Furthermore, avocado has moved up the rankings of healthiest fruits as a result of its reputation as nutrient-dense.
Why Avocados Thrive in South Africa
Avocado is among the most profitable horticultural crops in South Africa. The first commercial orchard was planted in the 1920s according to the Agricultural Research Council (ARC). In fact, in the late 1960s, the first farmers formed what is now known as the South African Avocado Growers Association (SAAGA) so as to regulate exports.
South Africa’s physical geography and climate make it the ideal place for growing exquisite avocados. It experiences a sub-tropical climate along the south and east coasts with rainy summers. Meanwhile, a Mediterranean climate covers the southwestern part of the coast with mild, rainy winters and warm, dry summers. The other avocado growing conditions in South Africa are:
- Eastern areas are at an altitude of 1500m-2100m above sea level.
- Eastern areas enjoy 1000mm-1600mm of rainfall that is well distributed throughout the year.
- Eastern areas experience temperatures as low as 13°C and as high as 22°C.
- Eastern areas have at least 6 hours of sunshine per day.
- Eastern areas have medium sandy or loam soils with a pH of 5-6.
The biggest avocado producing areas in South Africa are in fertile plains known as the Central Plateau. Additionally, avocado trees are quickly being cultivated in places along the Drakensberg escarpment and the southwestern coast. Areas under huge avocado cultivation are:
- Levubu
- Hazyview
- Tzaneen
- Mbombela (formerly Nelspruit)
- White River
- Greater Letaba Municipality
The three major groups of avocado can all be found in South Africa. 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 South Africa according to a report by SAAGA. Some of them include:
- Hass
- Fuerte
- Pinkerton
- Maluma Hass
- Ryan
Even with many avocado cultivars available in South Africa, 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 South Africa with their characteristics:
Hass Avocado
- It represents 5% of national plantings
- 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
Fuerte Avocado
- It represents 5% of national plantings
- It is a pear-shaped fruit with a smooth, leathery green skin that is easy to peel
- It has a rich, oily, creamy texture
Pinkerton Avocado
- It represents 6% of national plantings
- It has a pronounced, thick neck
- It has a thick, rough green skin that doesn’t yield easily to pressure
As the month of March kicks off avocado season in South Africa, the Fuerte variety is usually ready for picking as early as February. South African avocados are in season until October. But green skin varieties like Ryan and Reed are available up to November whereas Lamb Hass is available from October to February depending on the region of production.
The Economics of Avocado Farming in South Africa
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 South Africa is 400 trees per hectare.
Avocado farmers in South Africa 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 5 South African Rand and 10 South African Rand per kg while for Fuerte avocado is between 10 South African Rand and 20 South African Rand per kg.
Fuerte is currently the most profitable avocado variety in South Africa. This is because majority of new plantings are Hass or Hass sub-varieties which are yet to come into full production. Based on estimates, a farmer can earn as much as 500,000 South African Rand-1 million South African Rand from a hectare of Fuerte trees. Clearly, this is higher than 250,000 South African Rand-500,000 South African Rand from a hectare of Hass trees.
Production Volume of Avocados in South Africa
In a few years, avocado production in South Africa has expanded rapidly. According to a report by SAAGA, the country produced about 136,000 tons of avocado in 2021. SAAGA also reports an increase of close to 60,000 tons from 2011. The number of avocados produced in South Africa in 2022 is about 147,000 tons.
In recent years, South Africa has invested in significant area expansion for avocados. Since 2019, new orchards have come up. The area under avocado cultivation has increased from around 14,700 hectares in 2020 to about 15,439 hectares in 2021 according to census report by SAAGA.
South Africa’s Avocado Market Report 2023
South Africa is the second largest exporting country in Africa. It is usually among the top 10 avocado exporters in the world. Aside from that, more countries are opening up to avocados from South Africa.
Here are biggest importers of South Africa avocados in 2023 with their import volume.
Over the past decade, avocado exports from South Africa have enjoyed steady growth. In 2023, South Africa shipped out nearly 71,000 tons of avocado. It is an increase of 12% from the previous year.
Here is the export volume of avocados from South Africa between 2012 and 2023.
Exports of avocado from South Africa were valued at just above 144 million US Dollars in 2023. Compared to the previous year, it is an increase of 23%. The sharpest climb was from 2017 to 2018 when the export value rose from about 64 million US Dollars to around 115 million US Dollars.
Here are the total values in export of avocados from South Africa 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.