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About us

The World Avocado Organisation (WAO) is a relatively young non-profit organisation founded in 2016, representing avocado growers, national growers associations and importers from both the northern and southern hemisphere. These include growers from Chile, Mozambique, Kenya, Peru, South Africa, Spain, Tanzania and Zimbabwe,  as well as importers from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, India, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and UK. 

Grower and supplier members should hold GLOBALG.A.P certification and are encouraged to obtain other certifications and accreditations which demonstrate their commitment to sustainable and ethical practices across the supply chain. These include SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit) and the Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard.

WHAT WE DO

WHY WE DO THIS

FIVE TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES

OUR MARKETS

MEET THE WAO BOARD

Zac Bard

Chairman

Francisco Camino

Director

Adrielle Dankier

Director

Clive Garrett

Director

Juan Carlos Paredes

Director

MEET THE WAO TEAM

Tom Van Hees

Managing Director

Shelly Vorster

Marketing Director

Constance Goulletquer

Brand Manager

Pilar Tienda

Membership Coordinator

For more information contact us on info@worldavocadoorganisation.com

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WHAT WE DO

WAO promotes the healthy benefits of avocados by sharing insights and research on the fruit’s nutritional values, and its sustainable production. We set up consumer education campaigns through media (press releases & interviews), trade and retail partnerships. Through our multilingual social media presence on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram, we reach out to new generations, and to the avocado industry via LinkedIn. We also share best practice and help our members  – most of whom are small and medium sized avocado growers – to connect and get easier access to Europe and other emerging markets.

We are currently supporting over 30 retailers across 12 European markets – as well as new emerging consumer markets like India – to promote avocados. As we approach our tenth anniversary, our agile organisation is working hard to expand our network further to many more avocado-growing countries and consumer markets around the world in the coming years. 

WHY WE DO THIS

The purpose of the World Avocado Organisation is to create a harmonious balance between meeting the need for more healthy diet options, safeguarding the environment, and uplifting the livelihoods of those engaged in avocado production.

The World Avocado Organisation aims to meet the increasing consumer demand for healthy dietary options and to support the avocado industry in becoming more sustainable. Many countries are facing health crises when it comes to chronic conditions like diabetes and obesity. Avocados, thanks to their incredible nutritional value, can contribute to helping to improve diets across the world.

WAO is also dedicated to supporting avocado growers in adopting eco-friendly methods and technologies that further reduce the water and carbon footprint, preserve biodiversity, and ensure long-term viability of avocado farming especially with climate change imposing new challenges. 

Furthermore, we strive to create a positive impact on local economies and communities. We do this by promoting fair trade practices, equitable distribution of resources, and empowering avocado growers and their communities through education and economic opportunities. 

FIVE TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES

WAO represents the five top exporter countries to Europe. Peru is by far the most dominant supplier, followed by Colombia, Chile, Kenya and South Africa.  Together these five countries provide around 75% of the 800,000 tonnes of avocados that reach Europe annually. With avocado imports from both hemispheres, the seasons are staggered to ensure that Europe always has a continuous supply of avocados throughout the year.

OUR MARKETS

Europe is the biggest consumer market for WAO as our key grower countries – Peru, Colombia, Chile, Kenya and South Africa – represent around 75% of the total European avocado import.

Aside from Spain, which is considered a production and transit market, France, Germany, the UK, Scandinavia and Italy are the 5 biggest consumer markets in Europe (in total volume). The French alone consume 150,000 tonnes of the 800,000 that Europe imports each year. However, compared to countries like the USA, where avocado consumption rises to an average of 4.2kg per person, the French only consume 2.3k per person on average , so there is still a great untapped potential for avocados in Europe. 

The European demand for avocados will continue to grow. According to the OECD/FAO Agricultural Outlook 2021-2030, avocados are expected to become the second-most traded major tropical fruit in the world by 2030, after bananas. The United States and Europe will remain the largest importers in the future. According to OECD/FAO, these regions will be responsible for 40% and 31% of total global imports in 2030. This is despite the growing trade with other regions, such as China and the Middle East.

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