West Pak scales up across all areas to help customers grow avocado sales
West Pak scales up across all areas to help customers grow avocado sales
As the Mexican avocado season moves into its peak production period with a significant volume increase anticipated in the U.S. market for 2014-15, West Pak Avocados Inc. in Murrieta, CA, which has its own sourcing team in Mexico as well as its own packinghouse and distribution facilities, is positioned to enjoy the benefits of that growth in helping customers boost their avocado category sales.
The entrance to the West Pak facility in Mexico. (Photo courtesy of West Pak Avocados Inc.)“Avocados from Mexico is heading into the peak period of supply, quality, and flavor, which is typically from November through April,” Meyer told The Produce News Oct. 22. “This year, which officially began July 1 for the Mexican crop, is estimated to be another growth year for supply to the U.S. market. The crop size in Mexico is there to support the growth, and there will be several thousand more hectares becoming certified for export to the U.S.”
Mexico “supplies close to 70 percent of the almost two billion pounds consumed annually in the U.S.,” Meyer said. “On the marketing side, there are two exciting retailer and consumer promotions underway for the fall and winter months. They are the ‘Hungry for Football,’ and the ‘Guac Fiesta’ campaigns. Both are designed to engage consumers and get them pumped up to consume more avocados. Both involve in-store merchandising materials, display contests, digital/social media, TV, and consumer PR/print.”
At West Pak, “we are continuing to scale up across all areas of our sourcing, packing, ripening, distribution, customer service and marketing to help our valued customers grow their avocado categories,” he said.