Avocados: Health Benefits And Sustainable Cultivation

ATTRACTIVE GROWTH SEGMENT - In only a few years, the avocado has developed from being a rather a and has become an integral part of modern cuisine and in restaurants throughout Europe and beyond.

- Sabine Straka

More and more nutrition-conscious consumers integrate this popular fruit into their daily diet. Particularly during the last four to six years, the consumption of avocados in the EU has increased significantly.

Accor-ding to the World Avocado Organization (WAO), around 150,000 tonnes of avocados were consumed in France last year, 110,000 tonnes each in Ger-many and the UK, 60,000 tonnes in Scandinavia and 45,000 tonnes in Italy. The cultivation and trade of avocados is an attractive growth sector. Avocado consumption is increasing worldwide by around 3 % every year. In the EU, growth of as much as 15 % is expected over the next five years. This makes Eu-rope the second largest growth market for avocados after the USA.

HIGH-DEMANDING CONSUMERS

For around 50 years, avocados have been available in supermarkets. In Germany, 40% of households regularly eat avocados, with 1.3 kg per capita consumed last year. This puts Germany in the second place after France in terms of avocado consumption. In Europe, Millennials and Generation Z are particularly fond of avocados, a discerning target group with a conscious lifestyle who like to share their dietary preferences on social media. Avocados are popular in salads and are mostly eaten for breakfast, often with bread and eggs. Avocados are mainly eaten for their healthiness, but also for their flavor and enjoyment. As a nutritious superfood, avocados are an alternative to animal products. Avocados are available all year round. Most avocados come from countries such as Peru, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, South Africa, Kenya, Spain and Israel. More and more consumers are therefore concerned about the carbon footprint and whether they can eat avocados with a clear conscience.