There is another way to grow avocados

This trendy fruit is packed with vitamins and proteins. The avocado is not only a real trendsetter in the vegan and vegetarian lifestyle. However, due to its high water consumption and the fact that it is imported from far away, it is repeatedly criticized. Is it possible without a guilty conscience? Critical questions are necessary, but renunciation does not have to be the only answer.

In the subtropical climate of Málaga in Andalusia, our avocados grow on the small farms of Tierra y Libertad farmers alongside many other fruits. Particular attention is paid to water-conserving cultivation and the preservation of soil fertility. This is because water consumption and sustainable soil management are key issues that the producers of our partner cooperative "Tierra y Libertad" deal with on a daily basis during cultivation.

In the region around Málaga, where mainly citrus fruits, avocados and mangoes are grown, the climate has led to longer periods of drought in recent years. This also increases the challenge for producers to produce the sought-after fruit at market prices while at the same time managing their own water resources sustainably. 

Water-conserving cultivation is possible

Mindful and organic cultivation uses less than half the water that conventional cultivation would consume. This water consumption is comparable to that of orange cultivation and amounts to around 2,500 cubic meters of water per hectare. Our producers take the following measures, for example, to make cultivation as water-efficient as possible:

• The soil is covered with green material all year round so that as little water as possible evaporates and the roots can retain the water for as long as possible.

• Rainwater is systematically collected.

• Growing tall avocado trees: Although this makes harvesting more difficult, the taller trees form a deeper root system that can absorb more water. They also provide a good canopy that provides shade for the soil.

• Some producers have ingenious water supply systems in place, such as deep holes in the ground that collect rainwater and are covered with stones. The tree roots align themselves with the water collected in these holes, which in turn promotes deeper root systems that can absorb more water.

• Experimentation and local exchange: Our producers in Andalusia are constantly experimenting with new measures and sharing their experiences with each other.

• Only an appropriate price for the fruit makes it possible to adjust the yield in line with water resources and invest in measures for sustainable cultivation. We therefore set our prices together with our producers so that sustainable cultivation can be pursued.

What to do if you don't want to do without?

As a general rule: consume avocados when they are in season in Europe. And: buy them where attention is paid to soil- and water-conserving cultivation. The committed producers of the "Tierra y Libertad" cooperative, for example, not only practice diverse cultivation (instead of monocultures, turmeric, mangoes and citrus fruits grow in the same place), but are also generally committed to sustainable agriculture. They are not only concerned about respectful cultivation, but also about marketing: they want short and transparent supply chains and direct contact with consumers wherever possible. In conclusion, it can be critically said that our food system is far more complex and that this complexity goes beyond water consumption.

Organic avocados from our trusted producers

Enjoy a box of completely untreated and sustainably grown organic avocados from our producers directly from Andalusia!