More than a decade after California's initial application to export avocados to China, the industry has finally seen a breakthrough.

California Avocado Commission (CAC) vice president of industry affairs Ken Melban told www.freshfruitportal.com yesterday a Chinese delegation would soon visit the state to develop an export protocol work plan with their U.S. counterparts.

This is expected to be the next step after the U.S. completed its pest analysis for Californian avocados and the final step before the two parties sign a draft protocol.

“We are definitely pleased with the progress and we are hoping to achieve access in the near future," said Melban.

He said it would be "overly optimistic" to expect trade to start this season as a result of the meeting between China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) and the U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

However, Melban said he was optimistic the work plan would be finalized in 2017.

He also mentioned that last year in January, a field inspection led by AQSIQ director Li Jianwei was a positive sign in moving the process forward.

The upcoming visit will possibly happen in the week of May 8.

Del Rey Avocado vice president of business development, Ron Araiza, described the development as a great opportunity for California avocados as demand was growing in China.

He said Californian supply into China would have to be a good complement to already large volumes sent from Mexico between December and April, which implies the state would be better off shipping between April and August.

"We believe the younger generations are getting informed about the benefits of avocados and are incorporating them into their diets, which is why we're very optimistic about what we can do in the future in China," he said.

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