A culmination of problems within avocado-producing countries has led to low stocks in Europe during the Easter period that usually sees a boom in demand, according to leading global supplier Mission Produce Europe B.V.

Managing director Ine Potting told www.freshfruitportal.com that March and April could traditionally be challenging months for avocado supply, but this year was particularly difficult because early supplies from Latin America were not yet available and at the same time campaigns in Israel and Spain had come to an early end.

"This means that prices are going up," she said.

"Avocado supplies in Europe are low right at the time that demand is so high because of Easter, which usually pushes up the demand for avocado.

"I understand that Peru is not yet available, Spain has stopped and Israel has also finished. Meanwhile South Africa has been experiencing a lot of rain, so there is nothing coming from there either as of yet."

She said harvesting was delayed recently due to heavy rainfall in the southern Peruvian region of Ayacucho, and last week's severe floods and heavy rains in Chile had impacted output.

"Mission Produce Europe has supplies from Mexico and since we work with programs, we have all of those filled right now but we cannot get any extra avocados," Potting said.

"We have what we have and that's it. It's not likely that we'll be able to meet the potential for extra demand over this forthcoming Easter period, but there is nothing we can do about that unfortunately.

"Since demand is so high then of course we would like more but the problem is Easter is this weekend and the boat travels for three weeks so that makes it very difficult to have quick action when the supply is coming from so far away."

Mission Europe supplies various European markets from a two container per week program coming in from Mexico.

"We supply everywhere really in Europe with loads coming into places like Antwerp in Belgium and Amsterdam in the Netherlands and then the produce travels onwards.

"Israel and Spain usually continue supplying until the end of the March and there is normally supply from South Africa and early Peru at this time as well, but that not being the case this time makes things much more difficult."

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