Avocados from Peru Kicks Off 2018 Season at the World Cup and MLB All Star Game in Washington D.C., Among Other Strategic Marketing Initiatives

170 Million Pounds of Peruvian Avocados are expected to be imported into the United States this summer

Washington D.C., May 21, 2018 – As the world’s insatiable appetite for avocados continues to skyrocket, the Peruvian Avocado Commission (PAC) is thrilled to be kicking off it’s 2018 season with many exciting retail and consumer focused marketing initiatives. Beginning in June and in celebration of World Avocado Month, Avocados From Peru is the exclusive sponsor of various exciting activations in Washington D.C. during the World Cup and MLB All Star Games. It’s been over 35 years since Peru qualified for the World Cup and 50 years since the MLB All Star Game was hosted in the nation’s capital. Avocados From Peru will be present on air (they play Denmark June 16th and France June 21st), desktop, mobile and apps.

“Given the increased supply of Peruvian avocados this season, we will be focusing many of our marketing tactics around retail trade activity alongside supreme consumer tactics,” said Xavier Equihua, CEO and President of the Peruvian Avocado Commission. “Peru will export to the world 660 million pounds of avocados from the middle of April to mid-September, and 170 million pounds will come to the USA. We will be offering various strategic co-marketing opportunities from which retailers can specifically tailor their preferred programs. On the consumer side, we will continue to showcase the nutritional benefits and versatility of Peruvian avocados.”

This summer, consumers will have the opportunity to taste and see the versatility of both Peruvian Avocados and California Walnuts in a first ever superfood demo collaboration at Costco, Sam’s Club and Wal-Mart. The demos will be held nationwide across the United States and at various Costcos in Europe. The demos will begin on June 15th, just in time for Wal-Mart’s Wellness Day.

Avocados From Peru will also be renewing their partnership with CBS Radio and bringing back the fan-favorite Avo-Dog to baseball fans attending Orioles baseball games over Father’s Day weekend this summer. Fans will be able to enjoy a free topping of Peruvian Avocado with the purchase of any food item during the game in Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Baltimore locals and tourists visiting the Maryland Zoo this summer will also have a chance to participate in “Peru at the Zoo”, the first ever activation by avocados at a zoo in the United States. In celebration of World Avocado Month and Independence Day animal lovers will receive free Peruvian avocados and ripening bags during their visit to the zoo.

Consumers in Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and other cities will also see the return of the signature #AvoBus. This year, AFP will be increasing the amount of public transportation buses wrapped in its iconic image, Machu Picchu. This initiative has received high engagement amongst consumers in previous years and is expected to lead to further excitement around America’s favorite summer avocado across all digital channels.

AFP’s 2018 strategic marketing program will also include increased trade and consumer advertising, retail incentive programs, high-profile partnerships and various social media tactics to further engage consumers.  AFP plans to break its 2017 record of 6,500 demos with the retail trade with over 8,000, a first in the category. A robust toolbox of retail activations is also available to retailers, including geo-targeted mobile ads, display bins, and ripening bags.

Consumer activation includes radio spots on popular stations including Spotify and Pandora to remind consumers of the heart-health benefits of Peruvian Avocados. AFP will run full-page ads in regional editions of Vogue, Vanity Fair and Women’s Health, communicating the health and beauty benefits of Peruvian Avocados. AFP will continue their collaboration with AFP’s global ambassador Fooddeco, by creating beautiful and delicious avocado recipes shared on the Peruvian Avocado website and social media channels.

AFP is thrilled to be kicking off the 2018 with a strong marketing program in which each initiative complements another. This program will strengthen AFP’s reputation as America’s favorite heart-healthy summer avocado amongst consumers and retailers nationwide. To learn more about Avocados From Peru, or for heart-healthy Peruvian Avocado recipes, visit: www.avocadosfromperu.com, or click here to download a free copy of the Avocados From Peru Cookbook.

About the Peruvian Avocado Commission

The Peruvian Avocado Commission (PAC) is headquartered in Washington, D.C. It was established in 2011 to increase the consumption/demand for Avocados from Peru through advertising, retail promotion and public relations. The PAC’s promotional activities are conducted under the guidelines of the federal promotion program for Hass avocados, which is under the oversight of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Detailed information regarding these programs will be announced throughout the season. Avocados from Peru will be available in the U.S. through September.

For more information about the PAC please visit www.avocadosfromperu.com or email [email protected]

Media Contact:
Xavier Equihua, CEO and President

Peruvian Avocado Commission

(302) 547-3625

[email protected]

Emily Nordee, PR Director

Evans Hardy + Young

[email protected]

805-963-5841 x 218

Avocados Rank #1 in Environmental Working Group’s 2018 ‘Clean 15’ List

Peruvian Avocado Season will Launch June 2018

Washington, D.C., April 11, 2018 – Avocados From Peru (AFP) is thrilled to see avocados listed as the #1 cleanest fruit on the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) 2018 ‘Clean 15’ list. The list is a consumer-friendly guide to fruits and vegetables that contain the least amount of pesticides. Of the avocados tested by the EWG, less than 1% tested positive for pesticides and only one type of pesticide was found –earning the fruit its first place ranking.

“We are gearing up for and eventful and exciting 2018 Peruvian Avocado season,” said Xavier Equihua, CEO and President of the Peruvian Avocado Commission. “Ranking #1 on the ‘Clean 15’ list is the perfect way to celebrate the arrival of Peruvian avocados’ in just a few short weeks.”

Along with being a clean fruit, Peruvian avocados are also a heart-healthy superfood, boasting nearly 20 essential vitamins and minerals, no sodium or cholesterol and are gluten free.

About the Peruvian Avocado Commission
The Peruvian Avocado Commission (PAC) is headquartered in Washington, D.C. It was established in 2011 to increase the consumption/demand for Avocados from Peru through advertising, retail promotion and public relations. The PAC’s promotional activities are conducted under the guidelines of the federal promotion program for Hass avocados, which is under the oversight of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Detailed information regarding these programs will be announced throughout the season. Avocados from Peru will be available in the U.S. from June through September.

For more information about the PAC please visit www.avocadosfromperu.com or email [email protected].

Media Contact:
Xavier Equihua, CEO and President
Peruvian Avocado Commission
(302) 547-3625
[email protected]

Emily Nordee, PR Director
Evans Hardy + Young
[email protected]
805-963-5841 x 218

Peruvian Avocados Save The Summer Avocado Season

Avocados From Peru closes its most successful season yet by supplying enough avocados to the U.S. market to help surpass 2016 distribution levels

Screen Shot 2017-10-10 at 4.20.05 PM

Washington, DC, October 9, 2017 –Due to this season’s avocado shortage in the U.S., Avocados from Peru (AFP) shipped a record 145 million pounds of Peruvian avocados to the U.S. in an extremely condensed window of time during the summer months. Thanks to AFP, the U.S.’s demand for avocados this 2017 season was met and in turn, AFP experienced one of its most successful seasons.

“The shortage in the U.S. avocado market this past summer provided AFP the opportunity to maximize our distribution,” said Jose Antonio Castro, AFP Chairman. “We were happy to meet the U.S.’s demand for avocados this season.”

As America’s favorite heart-healthy superfood, AFP boasts 20 essential vitamins and minerals, no sodium or cholesterol and are gluten free.

This season’s marketing initiatives included strategic partnerships with many top retailers. “We saw great success this season by partnering with major retail stores like Costco, Walmart and Sam’s Club,” said Xavier Equihua, President & CEO of the Peruvian Avocado Commission. “Collectively we executed an unprecedented 6,000 Peruvian avocado demos at these large retail outlets between June and August this season. This initiative played a crucial role in reaching consumers nationwide.”

Peruvian Avocado in Walmart’s Wellness Day 2017:

AFP was selected by Walmart to be the first in the avocado category to be a part of its 2017 Wellness Day. Walmart’s Wellness Day is considered to be the largest health fair in the world and is held on the same day in June every year in over 4,500 Walmart stores. AFP served thousands of Walmart shoppers its signature Avocado & Blueberry Smoothie on Wellness Day.

Highlights of the 2017 Season Include:

  • A kick-off July 4th event where APF treated baseball fans to a free topping of fresh Peruvian Avocado with the purchase of an Oriole dog during the Baltimore Orioles vs. Tampa Bay Rays game in Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Avo-Dog is quickly becoming a baseball fan favorite!
  • AFP took over the bus wraps of several American cities including our nation’s capital, Washington D.C.
  • A morning TV show segment on the top rated news broadcasting station in Baltimore, NBC’s WBAL News Channel 11. The segment featured several summer Peruvian Avocado dishes prepared and presented by the chefs and global ambassadors for AFP, the Peruvian Brothers
  • AFP co-sponsored a festival at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C, along with the Embassy of Peru, titled “Kaypi Peru,” (“This is Peru”), highlighting the South American nation’s rich and diverse cultural heritage. AFP created unique dishes for the event including Peruvian avocado truffles, avocado oatmeal cookies, avocado and bison sliders, and a multi-flavored avocado gelateria.
  • AFP featured ‘Fresh Summer Recipes’ on the nationally syndicated morning TV show, “All About Summer” generating 2.5 million impressions nationwide.
  • AFP was pleased to participate in Apeel Sciences™ product trial earlier this year. Apeel Sciences™ develops plant-based technologies that protect crops and harvested produce. AFP supports their mission to eliminate food spoilage and reduce reliance on chemicals in the agriculture industry. The trial revealed that Apeel Sciences™ technologies add multiple days of additional marketable lifespan to Peruvian avocados.

AFP’s 2017 End-of-Season meeting will be held in New Orleans, LA on October 19th, 2017 (one day prior to the PMA’s Fresh Summit). The featured guests include Dr. James Rogers, Ph.D. from Apeel Sciences™ and Dr. Debasish Bandyopadhyay, Ph.D. from the University of Texas. Dr. Rogers will present his company’s signature plant-based technologies that have been tested and proven to prolong avocado shelve life. Dr. Debasish Bandyopadhyay will present his scientific findings regarding avocado seed husk oil. His research shows that behenyl alcohol, an important ingredient used in anti-viral medications, heptacosane, which may inhibit the growth of tumor cells, and dodecanoic acid, which increases high density lipoprotein (known as HDL) are all present in avocado seed husk oil. As a result, avocado seed husk oil may reduce the risk of atherosclerosis and other diseases.

“We are thrilled that Dr. Bandyopadhyay will present before our association the findings of this important study,” said Mr. Daniel Bustamante, AFP Marketing Committee Chairman & Director. “This groundbreaking study was first presented two months ago during the American Chemical Society (ACS) Annual Meeting. The ACS is the world’s largest scientific society.”

The marketing efforts of AFP reflect the organization’s commitment to supplying the U.S. with top-quality fruit during the summer season. Peru has been named South America’s Leading Culinary Destination by the World Travel Awards. AFP, Peru’s most popular superfood, are looking forward to an exciting season ahead!

For additional photos of the 2017 Peruvian Avocado Commission season, please visit: https://avocadosfromperu.com/2017-season-recap/

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ABOUT THE PERUVIAN AVOCADO COMMISSION

The Peruvian Avocado Commission (PAC) is headquartered in Washington, D.C. It was established in 2011 to increase the consumption/demand for Avocados from Peru through advertising, retail promotion and public relations. The PAC’s promotional activities are conducted under the guidelines of the Federal Promotion Program for Hass Avocados, which is under the oversight of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

For more information about the PAC please visit www.avocadosfromperu.com or email [email protected]