The U.S. company Calavo Growers gave 4.3 million dollars in contributions to APEAM to promote and advertise avocado consumption in 2024.
Who is APEAM? The Asociación de Productores y Empacadores Exportadores de Aguacate de México is a U.S. cooperating partner that, in collaboration with Mexican phytosanitary authorities, ensures that Mexican avocado producers comply with all sanitary standards from planting to export.
Contributions to APEAM
In October 2002, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) established the Hass Avocado Board to promote the sale of Hass avocados in the U.S. market. This board created a framework for unified funding of promotional activities through contributions to all avocados sold in the United States.
According to Department of Commerce data, the United States is the largest importer of avocados in the world, with a global share of 38%.
The highest U.S. share of global imports of this fruit in the last two decades was in 2014, reaching 46.7 percent.
The following are the largest exporters of avocados to the U.S. market in 2024, in millions of dollars:
- Mexico: 3,494.
- Peru: 192.
- Colombia: 99.
- Dominican Republic: 70.
- Chile: 21.
Promotion and Advertising
Historically, the California Avocado Commission, funded by California avocado growers, has borne the costs of promotion and advertising initiatives to boost avocado sales.
Calavo Growers believes that increased funding for U.S. promotion and advertising programs will have a long-term positive impact on average selling prices and benefit its avocado business.
During fiscal 2024, 2023 and 2022, Calavo Growers remitted $2.0, $0.5 and $1.5 million to the California Avocado Commission, and $5.6, $8.0 and $8.1 million to the Hass Avocado Board. It also contributed US$4.3 million, US$5.5 million and US$4.2 million to APEAM for Mexican avocado marketing activities.
Avocados from Mexico (AFM), created in 2013, is the marketing arm of MHAIA and APEAM.
More than 80 percent of Mexican avocado exports go to the United States, followed by Canada (7 percent) and Japan (3 percent).
The peak season is from December to February, with the Super Bowl as the main driver of demand. In 2024, Mexico accounted for 88% of U.S. avocado imports.