TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Domestically grown avocados are becoming increasingly popular with Taiwanese consumers, with peak production from July to September leading to lower prices.
The Tainan District Agricultural Research and Extension Station held a press conference on Tuesday (July 23), saying the total area planted and the agricultural output of domestic avocados have doubled in the past five years.
Wu Pei-rong (吳沛榕), an assistant researcher at the Tainan District Agricultural Reform Station, told CNA that the 2023 annual output was 22,378 metric tons, nearly double the 10,366 metric tons in 2019. Domestic avocado production reached 2,060 hectares in 2023, nearly double the 1,100 hectares planted in 2019, per CNA.
The main reason behind the increase was more consumer demand, which has attracted citrus farmers to switch their crops to avocados. In recent years, the improved quality of domestic avocados has led them to claim more and more space on supermarket shelves compared to imported avocados, which are smaller in size and more expensive.
Wu said imported avocados still have a richer taste than domestic avocados, due to a longer growing season where they hang on trees for longer, leading to a higher fat content. According to Wu, two domestic avocado varieties similar to longer-growing western avocados, such as “Choquette” and “Hall” avocados, continue to be green after ripening. However, their longer growing period puts them at risk of typhoons.
For this reason, early-growing avocado varieties continue to dominate local farms in Taiwan, as a faster time to market and better suitability for lower elevations allow farmers to earn more profits.
