If you own an avocado tree right now, you may be sitting on a gold mine.
Consumers and business owners alike are feeling the pinch as avocado prices skyrocket – a small unripened avocado now costs anywhere between R10 and R30, almost treble the price of the fruit last year.
Nigel Connellan, managing director of Western Gruppe Trading, which runs 13 Spars around East London, said drought and hail damage were to blame.
According to Connellan, hail damage was the biggest cause affecting both numbers and quality, something which affected many farmers who had their avocado trees totally wiped out.
“The photos I have seen are devastating – beautiful avos literally ripped apart by hail stones,” he said.
“I cannot see any improvement in the short-term.
“It’s all about supply and demand.
“Is the consumer prepared to pay these prices or not?”
The Saturday Dispatch visited a number of retailers to compare prices.
Super Spar in Gonubie sells medium-sized avocados for R12.99, while Gonubie Pick n Pay charges R18.99 for one, with a 1.5kg bag costing R49.95.
Woolworths in Vincent charges R42.99 for two avocados in their “Ripe and Ready Green Skin” category, while a 1kg bag of “Ripen at Home” avocados cost R39.99.
OK foods in Cambridge charges R10 for one.
Pizza restaurant Guido’s in Vincent has resorted to asking people who own avocado trees to sell to them.
Owner Petros Pouroullis said because avocados were one of the most popular ingredients on their menu, he decided to try alternative means of sourcing them.
After trying word-of-mouth, Pouroullis resorted to a Facebook page, which many have responded to.
“I found that many people had trees around East London and it seems no one has ever tried to get these avos from them.
“Since the Facebook post, I’m actually amazed at how many people have avo trees but were throwing them away or giving them away to friends and family.
“I started this out as an experiment but things started going well from there.
“I have about five people providing me with avos on a regular basis and about 10 who have shown interest.”
Consumer Phoebe Tessendorf said avocados used to be her favourite breakfast food, a dish she had not enjoyed in a while because of the prices.
“The prices are just ridiculous. You pay like R20 for a small thing that’s smaller than your hand. I really just can’t buy them anymore. Just about all fruit has gone up actually,” she said.
Connellan agreed, saying the price of bananas, lettuce, potatoes and tomatoes have also increased.
“Bananas are a huge issue at the moment. The drought has had a crippling effect in this regard. We are paying R225 per case of 18kg, and that is if we can get stock.
“The local agents order five trucks a week, however they are only getting one truck and the quality is not near where it should be.
“The issue we have is that if the banana plants are dying due to the drought, the recovery process is 1.5 years before new plants are producing, so this is not a short-term problem.
“Potato pockets are in the region of R85 per 10kg, lettuce are costing us R16 plus each, if you can get.
“Tomato boxes are R70. Consumers need to understand what pressure retailers and farmers are facing at the moment.”
Prices see many leaving the avo out their salad
Consumers and business owners alike are feeling the pinch as avocado prices skyrocket – a small unripened avocado now costs anywhere between R10 and R30, almost treble the price of the fruit last year.
Nigel Connellan, managing director of Western Gruppe Trading, which runs 13 Spars around East London, said drought and hail damage were to blame.
According to Connellan, hail damage was the biggest cause affecting both numbers and quality, something which affected many farmers who had their avocado trees totally wiped out.
“The photos I have seen are devastating – beautiful avos literally ripped apart by hail stones,” he said.
“I cannot see any improvement in the short-term.
“It’s all about supply and demand.
“Is the consumer prepared to pay these prices or not?”
The Saturday Dispatch visited a number of retailers to compare prices.
Super Spar in Gonubie sells medium-sized avocados for R12.99, while Gonubie Pick n Pay charges R18.99 for one, with a 1.5kg bag costing R49.95.
Woolworths in Vincent charges R42.99 for two avocados in their “Ripe and Ready Green Skin” category, while a 1kg bag of “Ripen at Home” avocados cost R39.99.
OK foods in Cambridge charges R10 for one.
Pizza restaurant Guido’s in Vincent has resorted to asking people who own avocado trees to sell to them.
Owner Petros Pouroullis said because avocados were one of the most popular ingredients on their menu, he decided to try alternative means of sourcing them.
After trying word-of-mouth, Pouroullis resorted to a Facebook page, which many have responded to.
“I found that many people had trees around East London and it seems no one has ever tried to get these avos from them.
“Since the Facebook post, I’m actually amazed at how many people have avo trees but were throwing them away or giving them away to friends and family.
“I started this out as an experiment but things started going well from there.
“I have about five people providing me with avos on a regular basis and about 10 who have shown interest.”
Consumer Phoebe Tessendorf said avocados used to be her favourite breakfast food, a dish she had not enjoyed in a while because of the prices.
“The prices are just ridiculous. You pay like R20 for a small thing that’s smaller than your hand. I really just can’t buy them anymore. Just about all fruit has gone up actually,” she said.
Connellan agreed, saying the price of bananas, lettuce, potatoes and tomatoes have also increased.
“Bananas are a huge issue at the moment. The drought has had a crippling effect in this regard. We are paying R225 per case of 18kg, and that is if we can get stock.
“The local agents order five trucks a week, however they are only getting one truck and the quality is not near where it should be.
“The issue we have is that if the banana plants are dying due to the drought, the recovery process is 1.5 years before new plants are producing, so this is not a short-term problem.
“Potato pockets are in the region of R85 per 10kg, lettuce are costing us R16 plus each, if you can get.
“Tomato boxes are R70. Consumers need to understand what pressure retailers and farmers are facing at the moment.”
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