Canary Islands Avocado Exports See Remarkable Growth
The Canary Islands tripled their avocado shipments to mainland Spain and international markets in 2024 compared to the previous year. This announcement was made by Narvay Quintero, Councillor for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food Sovereignty of the Government of the Canary Islands. Last year, a total of 424,632 kilograms of avocado, valued at 1.3 million euros, were sold outside the archipelago. This represents a threefold increase in both volume and market value from the 142,000 kilograms and 0.4 million euros recorded in 2023. Quintero shared these figures during his speech at the opening of the Fruit Attraction trade fair in Madrid.
A Promising Future for Canarian Avocados
Data suggests this positive production trend will continue in the coming years. Over the last decade, the land dedicated to avocado cultivation in the archipelago has doubled. Furthermore, the recent awarding of the European Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) label for ‘Aguacate de Canarias’ provides a distinctive element that helps guide the purchasing choices of distributors and consumers, setting the fruit apart from its competitors.
Papaya: Another Export Success Story
Councillor Quintero also highlighted the consolidation of papaya as a growing export product. In 2024, sales to mainland Spain and other European countries reached 10,815,307 kilograms, generating total external sales of 12.6 million euros. Over the last four years, exports of this tropical fruit have seen steady year-on-year growth, effectively doubling the market value of 5.9 million euros recorded in 2020.
Driven by Organic Farming and International Demand
This impressive growth in the papaya sector has been accompanied by a strong commitment to organic farming methods. This strategic move directly responds to consumer trends in key markets such as Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, where demand for sustainably produced food is high.
Promoting Canarian Produce on the World Stage
To further promote the internationalization of the Canary Islands’ fruit and vegetable sector, the regional government, through the Canarian Institute of Agri-Food Quality (ICCA) and with the collaboration of Proexca, is supporting the participation of local companies and public administrations at the Fruit Attraction event. The fair is taking place at IFEMA in Madrid and runs until October 2nd.
