Colombia is sending its first ever shipment of Hass avocados grown in the Quindío department to the U.S., which opened its doors to avocados from the South American country last year. 

The 20-metric-ton (MT) shipment is due to be shipped today (May 30) from the port of Cartagena, where it was sent from the central western department of Quindío late last week.

The fruit will be exported to Long Beach, California.

Pacific Fruits commercial director Rodolfo Ahumada told Fresh Fruit Portal the fruit should arrive on June 8, after which it will be sold by Calavo Growers.

"We are expecting to carry out another shipment in June, which will consist of 22MT sent to the West Coast," he said. He added that a further batch of fruit may be exported to Philadelphia on the U.S. East Coast.

Pacific Fruits is aiming to send between 35 and 40 containers to the U.S this year, Ahumada said.

In November, last year Colombia exported its first ever Hass to the U.S., which consisted of a 34MT of fruit grown in the central department of Caldas.

Exports to the U.S. last year were valued at US$70,571, while to all destinations they totaled US$52.9 million, according to a government release. In the first quarter of this year, Colombian Hass export rose year-on-year by 130% to US$22.8 million, it said.

www.freshfruitportal.com