There appears no end in sight for the avocado boom. Though overall growth has slowed a bit since the 1990s, when restrictions were eased on Mexican fruit exports, there was still 15 percent growth between 2015 and 2020.
The majority of avocados consumed in the United States are the pebbly Hass variety, grown primarily in California and Mexico, yet there are scores of other cultivars grown in Florida and the West Indies with their own appeal. One of these is the tropical avocado—a large, smooth-skinned variety with fruit that weighs from 1 to 1.5 pounds each.
Chris Gonzalez, vice president of sales at W.P. Produce Corporation BB #:143203 in Miami, FL, says this particular specimen is “the biggest naturally grown avocado you’ve ever seen!”
Equally impressive is its fruity, almost sweet taste and a lower oil content than Hass avocados.
Gonzalez explains, “The skin on this variety stays green and the flesh doesn’t oxidize nearly as much as Hass. One tropical equals three to five Hass avocados. They’re great on sandwiches, in salads with other fruits, in ceviche, and smoothies.
“Our two-count convenience bag and display bins help retailers introduce tropical avocados in stores. Tropicals are a complement to the Hass in the produce department,” he explains. “They grow the avocado category by providing another option to consumers.”
The two-count bag, Gonzales notes, W.P. Produce’s latest innovation to add value to the category. “We used research and focus groups to determine the best messaging and made sure the bags are recyclable. Until 2020, the trend was less packaging, but due to Covid-19, consumers now prefer bagged produce.”
Gonzalez adds that “an important part of introducing tropical avocados is shopper education. Consumers accustomed to Hass avocados don’t know what to do with tropicals.”
Which is why the company includes “a recipe on the bag, along with tips on the bags and bins on how to serve the fruit and determine ripeness,” Gonzales says. Additional recipes are also available on Instagram and other social media platforms.
This is a feature from the New Product Showcase that ran in the November/December 2020 issue of Produce Blueprints Magazine. Click here to read the full article.
