Avocado - Tropical and Subtropical Fruits: Postharvest Physiology, Processing and Packaging - page 421

Figure 23.1. World avocado production for selected
years since 1990 (source: Adapted from FAO, 2011).

Figure 23.2. Hass avocado, which has higher
amount of pulp than other cultivars.

should be carried out at the optimal point in order to at-
tain maximum quality. To determine the optimal harvest
point, two quantitative maturation and harvest indices are
used: oil and dry matter content. Dry matter content should
be around 22% for 'Hass' and 21% for 'Fuerte.' However,
other complementary indices can be considered, such as
the size of the fruit and the appearance of the seed skin
(Dorantes- Alvarez et al., 2004). The ripening process takes
5-7 days at room temperature (Wang et al., 2010). In the
case of 'Hass' avocado, the fruits are ripe when the green
color of the peel turns to black and they yield to gen-
tle pressure. Firmness of the avocado pulp changes from
20.39 kg to 0.25 kg during ripening (Welti et al., 2000).
The softening of the avocados takes place in all varieties
and corresponds to the degradation of protopectin and cel-

lulose, but a change of color of the peel does not occur
in some of the varieties. Also, the oil content of the pulp
of avocados may be a criterion to determine the maturity
of the fruit and hence the picking time. The minimum oil
content necessary for marketing avocado fruit is 8%; after
maturation values greater than 20% can be found (Ozdemir
and Topuz, 2004).

CONSUMPTION TRENDS AND HEALTH
SIGNIFICANCE
A study published by Global Avocado Marketing (MGA,
2008) shows that the main uses of avocado in the United

Table 23.1. Leading avocado-producing, -exporting, and -importing countries by quantity (metric tons).

2009 1 2009 1

Producers 2010 Exporters Importers

Mexico 1,107,140 Mexico 337,977 USA 431,750

Chile 330,000 Chile 166,192 Netherlands 88,398

Dominican Republic 275,569 Netherlands 72,189 France 80,631

Indonesia 224,278 Spain 51,165 Japan 44,552

Colombia 201,869 Peru 48,346 United Kingdom 34,054

Peru 184,370 South Africa 46,162 Spain 30,315

Brazil 152,181 Israel 21,765 Canada 28,610

USA 149,300 Italy 12,761 Italy 21,582

Kenya 113,206 Dominican Republic 12,117 Germany 19,491

China 105,400 New Zealand 11,663 Colombia 12,501

Spain 103,900 USA 11,624 Sweden 12,466

Guatemala 92,000 France 9,552 El Salvador 11,163

1 Latest data available.
Source: FAO (2011).