MURRIETA, CA - Why Colombia? This is a question West Pak Avocado recently set out to answer as we sat down to discuss the grower’s global strategy to establish multi-sourcing regions for its major customers. With Colombia serving as the next phase in this ambitious blueprint, I tapped Kellen Newhouse, Vice President of Sourcing and Farming Operations, to understand what makes this region so critical.
“Because of its unique geographic location, Colombia has access to shipping ports on both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans,” Kellen explains to me. “This means avocados can reach major ports in the States faster than any other South American growing region. In some cases, it is as short as three to seven days to major East Coast ports.”
Elevating its overall growth strategy, the Colombia region uplifts West Pak’s portfolio by giving the supplier a viable sourcing option to help meet the demand for premium avocados. As Kellen shares, the company’s vertical integration into Colombia gives it a competitive advantage and more control over the grower’s future.
“Our goal has always been to have vertical integration in the area by becoming growers and packers with our own land and processing facility,” Kellen notes. “West Pak is currently in the process of planting over 1,000 hectares of land owned by the company. The taste, size, and quality of Colombian fruit, as well as its transportability to major ports, make the region an attractive option for West Pak customers either as a starter avocado program or to add to existing year-round plans.”
The Colombian market has seen impressive growth as of late, and West Pak expects to see continued year-over-year volume increases. According to totals from the Hass Avocado Board (HAB), the volume of Colombian fruit to the States for 2023 came in at 25 million pounds, 21 million more than in 2022, and a 625 percent increase year over year.
For 2024, West Pak anticipates a record year in the U.S.
“The timing of the two seasons—late spring through summer and again in the fall through early winter—helps fill gaps in supply to customers with a year-round avocado program. It also helps augment supply for peak events such as Cinco de Mayo and the big game in February,” Kellen shares. “As the country of origin develops, we will see year-round availability of Colombian avocados. We’re proud to be the largest directly invested U.S. grower/packer in Colombia.”
ANUK will continue to bring you exclusive category updates like this one, so stick around!
