0
200K
400K
600K
800K
1M
1.2M
1.3M tonnes
1.2M tonnes
895.4K tonnes
549.9K tonnes
384.2K tonnes
There’s a lot to love about avocados, especially the many forms they can take.
It’s the prime ingredient in guacamole, a side dish that works for everything from Game Day at home or taco night at your favorite Mexican restaurant.
There’s avocado toast, a favorite entrée at many coffee shops and bistros. Sure, some may sneer at this menu item favored by hipsters, but others can’t get enough of the wonderful texture and taste combination of crisp bread and smooth avocado. Even sliced avocados can be tasty on a burger or in a salad.
The very versatile avocado is also popular because of its short shelf life: you should be considered a pro, or at least deserve a fist bump, if you can use one before it goes bad or gets too bruised.
It’s also popular for those interested in eating better – though it’s high in fat, avocados are considered a “good” unsaturated fat, and included in the acceptable fruit and vegetable choices for those who follow the keto diet. It also has more than 20 useful vitamins and nutrients, moving it into the “super food” category.
No wonder The Washington Post has declared it “America’s Favorite Fruit” in 2015.
Avocados are imported into the United States as well as grown domestically. It’s also a significant export from Mexico to much of the Western Hemisphere.
In terms of total consumption, U.S. citizens are the biggest fans of avocados, annually eating an average of 8.43 pounds apiece.
The U.S. accounts for 79 percent of all avocados exported from Mexico, since there are so many fans north of the border.
So how many avocados is this? In 2021, Avocados from Mexico, a trade group, reported exporting 24 billion pounds to the U.S. Most come from a 275,000 square foot farm.
Per capita, Mexico also is a big consumer of its consumers, eating 8.1 kgs as of 2022. According to InspiraFarms, which grows avocados, the 8 or so pounds the U.S. consumes is actually a decline from past years, including 4.1 kg in 2021, or just over 9 pounds.
Other countries that enjoy their avocados include Canada, which consumed 2.5 kg per person. The European Union overall consumed about 1.3 kg of avocados in 2021.
Within the EU, Norway consumes the most, at 2.87 kg, followed by the Netherlands with 2.85 and Denmark with 2.65.