Florida avocados get strong retail support

Excerpts from a 5/30/11 article in The Packer by Doug Ohlemeier

Florida avocados travel throughout the U.S. and Canada and have become increasingly more popular even with West Coast shoppers.

Although the Southeast and Northeast remain the strongest buying regions for Florida avocados, Bill Brindle, vice president of sales management for Brooks Tropicals, LLC., said the grower-shipper sells significant volume to West Coast retailers.

An efficient hydro cooling system removes field heat and provides Brooks' avocados enough shelf life to sip as far west as California, Washington and Oregon, Brindle said.

Additionally, West Coast buyers remain more health conscious, Brindle said. And marketing avocados that possess less fat and fewer calories represent a strong step into the market, he added.