Latin America has become a leading exporter of these 2 hugely popular products

Perhaps it’s a post-pandemic thing: many of us felt the need for greater human connection following COVID-19 lockdowns, as well as healthier diets.

Step forward roses and avocados. We’re buying roses in increasing numbers as a way to show loved ones how much we care. While avocados have become a staple of more health-conscious diets.

Growers in Latin America have seized on this growth in demand and trade data shows the region now leads the world in the export of the two products.

The modern avocado trade in Latin America tells a story of agricultural development that spans millennia. Archaeological evidence suggests that avocados were being consumed in Mexico as far back as 10,000 years ago.

Latin America now accounts for 75% of global production of avocados, according to data from Agraria.pe.

As the chart above illustrates, data from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) shows production in Mexico more than doubled from 1.1 million tonnes in 2010 to 2.4 million tonnes in 2020.

Colombia has also increased production dramatically in recent years. In 2015, Colombia produced 309,852 tonnes of avocado. By 2020, production had increased to 876,754 tonnes, making it Latin America’s second-largest supplier. Colombia is now on track to overtake the continents of Africa and Asia as a leading global exporter of avocados.

The main demand for Latin America’s avocado crop comes from the United States. In 2021, an estimated 46% of revenue came from the US. Much of the market is driven by holidays and major events. The weekend of the NFL Super Bowl final is estimated to account for 20% of annual avocado sales in the US.

Latin America is fast becoming one of the world’s leading exporters of roses. The sweeping flower fields of the Netherlands still supply the biggest share of the world market, but Latin American countries are taking a bigger share of a global market worth $2.86 billion in 2020.

According to data from the Observatory for Economic Complexity (OEC), Ecuador is now the world’s second-biggest exporter of roses, shipping $625 million worth of the blooms in 2020. Colombia is the fourth-largest exporter, with rose sales topping $350 million in 2020.

When taken together, the value of rose exports from Ecuador and Colombia hit $975 million in 2020, making up 34% of annual rose exports.

Among the key markets for Latin American rose exports are the United States and Europe. The annual celebration of love that is Valentine’s Day creates a huge demand for roses. Demand for Colombian flowers in the US increased by 16.1% between 2020 and 2021, with a value of $1.2 billion. Exports to the Netherlands and the United Kingdom increased by 59.1% and 28.8% respectively in the same period, according to regional business analysts.

While the boom in agricultural exports is a positive for Latin American economies, there are concerns about the environmental impacts of shipping food and other products between continents.

The Food Action Alliance (FAA) is a multi-stakeholder platform for the development of sustainable food systems. Hosted by the World Economic Forum, the FAA aims to ensure economic and social inclusion with a focus on women and youth, while providing healthy, nutritious, and safe foods in a way that safeguards our planet, conserves natural resources and builds resilience against future shocks.