Increasing appetite in China drives Chilean avocado exports

SANTIAGO, Chile - Chilean avocado growers have found a rapidly expanding market in China as consumers there develop an ever-finer appetite for nutritional produce, industry officials have said.

"We've had very good results," said Francisco Contardo, general manager of Chile's Hass Palta Committee, an organization of avocado growers.

The committee said avocado exports to China began three years ago and have been booming. In the latest season, which runs from July to April, 14,860 tons of avocados were sold to China, up from 3,970 tons in the 2015-16 season.