After years of debate, avocados are still a topic of controversy. While some people praise them as being a miracle superfood, others use them as an example as to why millennials can't afford a house.
Both these statements are exaggerated, but what is true is that one of the nation's favourite toast toppings isn't as sustainable as you might think.
Although avocados are still far better for the environment than meat, their popularity in the last ten years has led to mass production, which is putting a strain on the environment.
In this article, we'll take a look at the environmental impact of avocados, which countries export and import them the most, and what the greener alternatives are.
Which country exports the most avocados?
Mexico exports the most avocados, accounting for around 55%-60% of global exports. Peru is the second-largest exporter of avocados, making up around 22% of global exports. This is followed by Chile, Kenya, and South Africa.
Here's a table showing how many tonnes of avocado each country exported in 2021:
*Data from a 2021 report by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO)Which country imports the most avocados?
Together, North America and Europe are the largest importers of avocados, with North America accounting for 52% of imports, and Europe for 33%.
The United States imports the most avocados out of any country, shipping in around 1.2 million tonnes in 2021, with 89% of them coming from Mexico.
The Netherlands imports the most avocados in Europe, but it's also a transit hub that distributes avocados to other European countries - so residents don't necessarily consume the largest amount of avocados.
Besides the Netherlands, the European countries that import and consume the most avocados are Spain, France, Germany, and the UK. In 2021, the UK imported 114,000 tonnes of avocados.
