CULTURE READS
Top Producing Provinces of Avocado in the Philippines
During this peak season, you might love to know the top-producing provinces or want to have an idea where to buy the best avocados in the Philippines, or at least where you can get the most options. This article will give you an educational peek into that, the Philippine exportation to other countries, the small number of avocado varieties available in the country, and even a glimpse of the interesting ways other countries enjoy avocado — they are all different, and if you’d love to know why Filipinos are into sweet avocado, then here’s the perfect read.
If you want to dig deeper, keep reading!
Top Producing Provinces of Avocado in the Philippines
Avocado is a highly versatile fruit consumed in many different ways. Avocado toast is popularized in modern Western cuisine, being loved among urban millennials in Australia and the United States. Avocado salad is quite common in many cuisines, especially in Latin America. Meanwhile, slide some avocado dessert on the dining table and watch a flock of Southeast Asians fight for seats.
In the Philippines, there are a lot of avocado-flavored things: avocado shake, avocado cake, avocado ice cream — and even a lazy version of it — sliced avocado in a tub mixed with ice cubes and condensed milk. Filipinos can often be alienated for enjoying sweet avocado as a dessert and not a savory snack like most people around the world do. It’s a bit of an acquired taste, but once others try it, they’ll understand.
According to a study on avocado production in the Philippines published on the page of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: This is because the avocado lacks the sweet or subacid flavour present in mango, banana, and pineapple to which the Filipino palate has been accustomed. Furthermore, Filipinos are not aware of the varied uses and excellent nutritional value of the fruit. Therefore, advertisements and a strong promotional campaign on the different uses of the avocado should be carried out in order to change the perception and eating habits of Filipinos regarding the avocado.
Largest Avocado Producers in the Philippines
According to the same study, avocados in the Philippines have a long fruiting season. The typical fruiting season comes around May to September, while some trees in particular locations fruit around January to March. However, its peak comes around June to August, during the rainy season.
A quantitative chart by the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics and the Department of Agriculture suggests that top producers of avocados in the Philippines are Southern Tagalog, Central Visayas, and Cagayan Valley.
Cagayan Valley has a production volume reaching about 18,455 tonnes. Covering 730 hectares and nurturing over 111,000 bearing trees, Cagayan Valley is excellent in maximizing both scale and efficiency. Yield per hectare stands at an impressive 25.3 tonnes, while each tree produces around 166 kilograms. Such results reflect optimal growing conditions and farming practices. Large land allocation combined with productive trees inarguably makes Cagayan Valley a top supplier that sustains strong market supply and supports local economies.
Second on the list is Central Visayas, producing 11,899 tonnes. The region maintains 520 hectares planted with 49,530 bearing trees. What’s even more surprising is its incredibly high yield per tree of 240 kilograms, the highest in the country, and a solid yield per hectare at 22.9 tonnes. This exhibits highly efficient farm management, good planting materials, and techniques that maximize the productivity of each tree. Despite having fewer trees compared to Cagayan Valley, Central Visayas’ strategy of boosting individual tree productivity proves effective and that great production isn’t entirely reliant on vast plantations but also on how each tree is cared for.
Coming in last, but never the least, is Ilocos. With a production volume of 2,237 tonnes, it utilizes 324 hectares and has 41,982 bearing trees. While its yield per hectare is 6.9 tonnes and yield per tree is 53 kilograms, lower compared to the top two regions, Ilocos remains a significant contributor, especially in comparison to other producers. Its production is driven mainly by consistent cultivation over a considerable area. These figures also indicate opportunities to further increase yield through improved farm inputs and modern techniques to strengthen its standing in national production.
Arguably, each region may rank differently depending on the basis. Definitely however, comparing them highlights lessons for other regions.
For instance, Southern Tagalog has a similar area size to Central Visayas but only produces 2,690 tonnes, mainly due to lower yield per tree (32 kilograms) and per hectare (3.9 tonnes). Looking solely at production, its number actually beats Ilocos, but it’s significantly lower in yield per tree and per hectare. This observation suggests that adopting the practices of Central Visayas or Ilocos could significantly boost its output.
To clarify, this is not to invalidate any production or agricultural efforts other regions are making in the avocado industry. Every effort counts!
Overall, the three specified regions each show unique ways of production leadership. Cagayan Valley combines large areas and good yield, Central Visayas maximizes each tree’s output despite fewer numbers, and Ilocos relies on consistent farming practices across its plantations.
Philippines to Export Hass Avocados to Korea and Japan
Sadly, there isn’t a lot of research on avocados in the Philippines. This is most likely because of the lack of funds for avocado research and development. As of today, research on fruit commodities is focused on several key areas, including mango, banana, pineapple, and citrus, with a growing interest in durian, papaya, jackfruit, and indigenous fruits, according to a background analysis on fruits program area research planning and prioritization published on the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS). These fruits are prioritized due to their economic importance, both domestically and for export, as well as their potential for further development and diversification. It does seem like avocados are overlooked despite their income-generating potential.
However, lack of research nowhere means lack of potential. In November 2024, the Department of Agriculture announced its first-ever shipment of Hass avocados to Japan, making the Philippines the first Asian country with granted access to the Japanese market for fresh Hass avocados. The initial Japan shipment represents roughly 2,240 boxes valued at US $40,320. This is expected to yield substantial returns, with the Philippines targeting approximately US $16 million in avocado export revenue to Japan by 2025.
Earlier, in September 2023, the Philippines also secured market access for Hass avocados to South Korea. The shipment totaled 3,040 boxes, valued at about US $48,433, arriving in Pyeongtaek on October 8, 2023. The Department of Agriculture shared that this was made possible through years of bilateral negotiations and the country’s compliance with strict Korean import requirements.
These achievements prove that despite having limited research investments, avocado could be a strong income-generating commodity alongside mangoes, pineapples, and bananas. Hopefully, this would mean enhanced support for local production through targeted research and improved postharvest practices, to cultivate stronger market linkages and unlock even greater economic benefits for our avocado farms.
The Philippines is currently exporting avocados to eight markets, including China, Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Brunei Darussalam, United Kingdom, and Northern Ireland.
Types of Avocados in the Philippines
There are over 500 varieties of avocado that are different in size, texture, shape, and maturity rate. In the Philippines, two main types currently exist: the Hass avocado and the purple-fruited varieties.
Hass avocado is a popular variety loved for its creamy, nutty flavor and pebbly, dark green skin. It's a cultivar of the avocado (Persea americana) and is widely recognized as the standard by which other avocados are judged.
The purple-fruited varieties, on the other hand, have mostly three variants: Cardinal, which is known for large, elongated, and less fibrous fruits. Calma, which is intermediate in thickness, has yellow flesh. And Uno, simply the thickest of the three.
Avocado trees, though not native, were introduced by the Spanish and have thrived in the Philippine climate since the early 1900s. The Philippines is known for its volcanic soil, which contributes to the nice flavor and nutritional value of its avocados.
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