Avocados appeal to people of all ages and with diverse backgrounds. More and more consumers are discovering the great taste and health benefits of the green fruit. It is for this reason that South African avocados are experiencing a boom in sales.
Avocado Season South Africa
Due to the different climatic conditions of the avocado growing regions in South Africa, avocados are available over an extended period. The main harvest season lasts from February to November. But the bulk of the fruit is picked from March to September.
Price of Avocados in South Africa
During the South African avocado season, prices are stable but they go up when its off-season. This is because South Africa has to import avocados from Spain, Israel and recently Tanzania so as to fill the supply shortage. The price hike usually happens from December to February.
Majority of the avocados in the domestic market are sold in national fresh produce markets. The rest is sold by informal traders like vendors and hawkers. Retailers like supermarkets trade in smaller quantities. Some avocado producers sell their fruits directly to avocado oil processors.
Avocado Price per kg South Africa
The average price of a kilo of avocados in South Africa in 2021 was from R10-R20. According to AMT, a company which specializes in market information on the South African agricultural industry, the highest price was in January at about R35 per kg while the lowest was in March at about R10 per kg.
In January 2022, avocado price peaked to R38.45 per kg due to limited supply. But higher production volumes in February have put a downward pressure on this price. The cost of a kilo of avocados is currently at R21.26.
South Africa Avocado
Here are some highlights from a consumer research done by the South Africa Avocado Growers’ Association (SAAGA) in 2021:
- South Africans of all demographics plan their avocado purchases more than they buy on impulse.
- Consumers like simple recipes better. The top three favorite ways they enjoy eating avocado are in a salad, on bread or toast and on its own.
- A growing number of them are now adding avocado to traditional South African meals like pap and vetkoek while some are serving it with atchar.
- Fuerte is still the most preferred avocado in the local market followed by Hass. Other green skin varieties are also bought more than dark skin varieties.
- The top three things South Africans would like to know about avocado are its health benefits, the different types and recipe ideas. Interestingly, some of them are curious about its beauty benefits.
National fresh produce markets (NFPMs) are vital to the avocado industry in South Africa. These formal markets provide a transparent pricing system and a crucial service to buyers and sellers across the country. Market agents are the ones who sell the fruit in NFPMs on behalf of avocado farmers.
Informal traders get their supply from emerging avocado farmers or from bigger markets to sell to consumers. Most of the large avocado producers ignore the informal markets because of their unpredictability. But these markets are expanding in number.
The avocado price in South Africa is stable as production volumes remain steady and ongoing awareness of the benefits of healthy eating.