Early season avocados have doubled in price.

Each kilogram of early-season avocados is being purchased by traders at prices ranging from 22,000 to 40,000 VND per kilogram (depending on the variety), double the price compared to the same period last year.

This harvest season, Ms. Hien in Lam Dong is delighted as the price of 034 avocados has doubled compared to the same period last year, reaching 40,000 VND per kilogram. At this price, her orchard is expected to yield approximately 100 million VND, with a net profit of 60 million VND after deducting expenses.

In Kon Tum , Loan's family, who grow Hass avocados, also earned tens of millions of dong thanks to the selling price reaching 22,000 dong per kilogram, much higher than the 10,000-11,000 dong at the same time last year and only 4,000-6,000 dong in the middle of the season.

The sharp increase in avocado prices at the farm gate has led to a surge in retail prices in Ho Chi Minh City. Traditional shops and markets are selling avocados for 50,000-70,000 VND per kilogram, while at upscale supermarkets, 034 avocados can reach 109,000 VND.

Consumers choose avocados at the Da Lat Avocado Week at MM Mega Market in An Phu (Thu Duc). Photo: Thi Ha

Ms. Hoang Anh, the owner of a fruit shop on Thong Nhat Street (Go Vap district), said that this year, avocado prices are significantly higher than many other fruits such as mangoes, oranges, and pomelos. "The amount of avocados imported this year has decreased by 50% due to the limited supply at the beginning of the season," Ms. Hoang Anh shared.

Mr. Dang Minh Tien, an avocado supplier in Lam Dong province, said that avocado prices are at their highest level since 2020. This is also the year farmers have returned to profitability after five years of sluggish market conditions and falling prices.

Explaining the reason for the increase in avocado prices, Mr. Tien said that in addition to the scarcity of supply at the beginning of the season, this year's yield has decreased sharply due to the impact of unusual weather. During the avocado flowering period, the prolonged cold weather resulted in a low fruit set rate. Furthermore, four consecutive years of plummeting avocado prices have forced many households to cut down their trees and switch to planting other varieties.

Representatives from MM Mega Market also stated that the purchase price of avocados from suppliers this year is higher. This is good news, helping farmers earn a considerable profit. To support consumers amidst tight spending, the supermarket, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Lam Dong province, launched an Avocado Promotion Week. Accordingly, Hass avocados and Booth avocados are discounted by 50%, now priced at 35,000 VND per kg, and 55,000 VND per kg for 034 avocados.

In addition, the supermarket also implements the "Green Tick" program - the abbreviation for the "Product Quality Control Program in Ho Chi Minh City". Accordingly, all avocados and many other agricultural products that meet quality standards will be labeled with a "Green Tick for Responsibility", ensuring safety and freedom from chemicals.

According to the Lam Dong Department of Agriculture and Environment, the amount of avocados on the market this year will be lower than in previous years. Avocado season is just beginning, with limited ripe fruit, and growing areas have shrunk as farmers have switched to growing durian and coffee. Therefore, many traders are buying up unripe avocados to sell early. Consumers should be cautious because unripe avocados are not fully ripe, may not taste good, and could even be inedible.

Every year, the Lam Dong Department of Agriculture and Environment organizes survey and working delegations with the agricultural sectors of Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, and the MM Mega Market Vietnam supermarket system to seek and connect stable markets for avocados and other agricultural products of the province.

Lam Dong province has over 8,000 hectares of various avocado varieties, producing approximately 80,000 tons annually. Of this, the 034 avocado variety accounts for the largest proportion at 81.3% (6,557 hectares), mainly concentrated in the districts of Bao Lam, Di Linh, Lam Ha, Duc Trong, and Bao Loc city. During its heyday, the 034 avocado (long, slender fruit, thin skin, thick yellow flesh, small seed) sold for no less than 100,000 VND per kilogram. However, from 2020 to the present, the price of 034 avocados has only fluctuated around 15,000-30,000 VND per kilogram (depending on the variety).

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/bo-dau-mua-tang-gia-gap-doi-3355717.html