PERU – A country rich with opportunity…
Why Peruvian Avocados?
-Peruvian growers are committed to US Markets
-Large fruit popularity has increased due to Peru’s ability to grow premium sizes
-Competitive price points
Index Fresh sources fruit from some of Peru’s largest growing regions.
We have aligned ourselves with growers throughout the country, in order to ensure that continuous supply is achieved.
LET’S GO!
Cultivating the land
Peru’s growing regions are comprised of desert.
Their nutrient dense and sandy soil base, have proven to be an excellent source for growing avocados.
Canal System
Food Grows Where Water Flows
Unlike Mexico, where the annual rainfall contributes to a tree’s astonishing production, Peru’s annual rainfall is almost non existent.
Canals are often constructed in order to deliver water from large reservoirs to commercial producing avocado groves.
Filtration & Irrigation
Filtration and irrigation stations, like the one pictured here, are strategically located in order to help remove ground sediment from passing into irrigation lines.
One little stone, something the size of a Tic-Tac, can plug an irrigation line, thus preventing clean water to pass. 1-2 days without water can cause irreversible damage to a grove.
Avocados for miles
Avocados in Peru grow best in river valleys.
Peru’s growing conditions allow for avocado trees to be planted in blocks similar to citrus groves.
Assessing the size of any crop still requires an expert’s eye. This ranch foreman and his team are examining trees and counting fruit. Some growers have begun experimenting with drones and thermal imaging for volume assessments and forecasting.
This season’s crop is sizing up nicely.
Sun Protection
Growers go to great lengths to protect their fruit.
Paper bags are often used to shield fruit from the sun’s direct rays. Prolonged sun exposure can sunburn the fruit’s skin.
Meticulous care goes into growing each and every avocado…
Keeping the cold chain in tact throughout the entire process is key!
Forced Air Cooling for Inbound Fruit
This room was specifically designed to extract warm temperatures from fruit.
State of the art cooling
Packing is performed in a temperature controlled setting.
This packing line was designed for optimal efficiency. When operating at full speed, this line can produce 1,600 cases or one truck load every 30 minutes.
Fuerte Avocados
packed on March 23, 2016
Peruvians prefer Greenskin avocados to that of the Hass variety.
Nearly all Hass grown in Peru is exported.
Season Highlights
- Index Fresh will begin shipping Peruvian avocados to its US distribution centers in late May and early June
- 15-16 week program (4 months) +/-
- Fruit quality looks outstanding
- 65% of this season’s crop will comprise of 48’s and larger (Peak sizes 40-48’s)
- Due to a surprisingly warm summer in Peru, we will see additional small fruit availability, unlike in past seasons
- Index Fresh is committed to you and your programs
- Index Fresh is not only a source for avocados, but your go to partner for information throughout the season
Thanks for watching!
