India: Avocado floods market, struggles to become mainstream

Avocados are here. The pear-shaped fruit, also known as butter fruit for its taste and texture, has…

Avocados are here. The pear-shaped fruit, also known as butter fruit for its taste and texture, has arrived in the city markets from Kodaikanal a month earlier this year. About two tonnes of avocados have been flooding the Koyambedu market every day since the first week of July. Traders across the state say the yield this year has been of good quality and size.

However, avocados are not finding many takers. Though highly nutritious, the fruit is sought after only by hotels and juice shops, say traders in Koyambedu. At juice kiosks, the avocado is used in place of milk to make shakes. Restaurants use it in salads.

The avocado, priced between 80 and 100 per kilo at the city's largest market, is in demand only among the affluent class.

According to horticulturist S Mohanasundaram from Thandikudi, avocados are available two times a year. The fruit available now is the off-season variety colloquially known as 'kodaikai' (summer fruit). The seasonal yield 'kaalathukai' appeared between October and December.

Mohanasundaram said though avocados were in high demand everywhere, in Tamil Nadu about 90% of the produce was sent to Kerala. The fruits are free from pesticides, said Mohanasundaram as avocados grow too high to be treated with chemicals.