Buy avocados from Africa

Seasonality snapshot

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Tell us your calibers, pack format, destination, and incoterms. We will shortlist the right African avocado exporters.

How to choose the right avocado exporters

Use this practical checklist to qualify African avocado exporters before you commit to a program.

• Certification stack: GLOBALG.A.P + GRASP as a baseline; Organic if claimed; SMETA/BSCI for labor; BRCGS or ISO 22000 for packhouse food safety.
• Cold chain readiness: Pre-cool, hydro-cool or forced-air capability; temperature monitoring; handover SLAs to airport/port; reefer plugging SOPs.
• Caliber and maturity: Match calibers to mode and market—16–24 for sea, 22–26 for air; dry matter targets aligned to EU/UK/ME tolerances.
• MRL compliance: Recent lab results, spray records, and lot-level traceability with pallet/box IDs.
• Incoterms clarity: Get clear on FOB/CFR/CIF/DAP; specify port/airport, free time, and who handles insurance.
• QA and photos: Batch photos (pulp, skin, packing), pack list templates, and defect thresholds before loading.
• Capacity and buffers: Weekly capacity, peak/shoulder volumes, backup farms, and reroute plans for weather or congestion.
• Communication speed: Response SLAs, single point of contact, and escalation paths for claims.

Documentation and compliance for avocado exporters

Keep documents ready to prevent delays and secondary inspections.

• Phytosanitary certificate with correct HS codes and lot references.
• GLOBALG.A.P and GRASP certificates plus Organic where claimed.
• Packhouse food safety (BRCGS/ISO 22000) and SMETA/BSCI audit summaries.
• MRL lab tests tied to lot numbers and harvest dates.
• Commercial invoice, packing list, weight notes, and temperature logs.
• If airfreight: AWB instructions, cut-off times, pallet heights, and security screening confirmations.

Packing and presentation for avocado exporters

Consistent presentation reduces rejections and improves shelf performance.

• Common packs: 4kg and 10kg cartons; align to retailer specs for liners, stickers, and branding.
• Stacking and palletization: confirm carton burst strength, pallet pattern, wrap quality, and corner boards.
• Pulp checks: dry matter and oil content; avoid immature fruit that risks cold damage.
• Defect thresholds: stem end rot, lenticel damage, and bruising limits agreed before packing.
• Labeling: producer codes, lot numbers, pack dates, and country-of-origin on every case.

Logistics for avocado exporters

Avocado shelf life depends on transit discipline—plan the lane before you pack.

• Sea: reefers set to 5–6°C (Hass), controlled atmosphere when available; monitor pre-trip and vent settings.
• Air: ideal for early/late shoulders and smaller calibers; minimize tarmac time and confirm cool storage at origin/arrival.
• Ports and airports: Mombasa/Dar es Salaam/Cape Town for sea; JKIA/DAR for air. Align cut-offs and free time.
• Insurance and claims: decide who owns cargo risk; document pulp temps at loading/unloading; keep photos of pallets and seals.
• Customs and inspections: prepare for EU CVED/CHED checks, random MRL tests, and potential delays—build buffer days.

Pricing signals for avocado exporters

Prices move weekly; set expectations with transparent assumptions.

• Mode split: air commands premiums during early/late weeks; sea stabilizes costs in peak volumes.
• Size mix: smaller calibers (22–26) often favor air; larger calibers (16–20) fill reefer programs.
• Incoterms impact: FOB vs CFR/CIF vs DAP—align who pays freight, insurance, and clearance.
• Season window: early fruit tends to be higher due to scarcity and tighter QC risk.
• Extras: carton branding, QA inspectors, and third-party lab tests should be costed upfront.

Risk management for avocado exporters and buyers

Reduce disputes with clear evidence and communication.

• QC photos before loading and at destination where possible.
• Temperature loggers and seal numbers on every reefer.
• Lot traceability down to farm/block with spray records.
• Agreed defect tables and claim windows in the contract.
• Contingency: reroute options, secondary packhouse, and buffer harvest blocks during peak demand.

Sample RFQ template for avocado exporters

Copy/paste these fields into your next RFQ to get comparable offers from multiple avocado exporters.

• Fruit: Hass avocado
• Calibers: e.g., 16–22 (sea) or 22–26 (air)
• Packs: 4kg/10kg; branding requirements if any
• Volumes: weekly and total program
• Origin preferences: Kenya/Tanzania/Rwanda/other
• Destination: port/airport, incoterms (FOB/CFR/CIF/DAP)
• Certifications required: GLOBALG.A.P, GRASP, Organic, SMETA/BSCI, BRCGS/ISO 22000
• QA evidence: pulp temps, dry matter, photos, lab tests
• Timelines: first ship date, cut-offs, preferred transit time