Avocado fruit is mainly produced in Mexico and Central America. Because of its uneven texture that looks like a crocodile's skin, it is also called crocodile pear in Chinese. In 2005, China opened its market to avocados from Mexico, but for a long time it wasn't particulary popular among Chinese customers.
The main reason for this is that Chinese and Western people have use avocados in different ways. While Western customers take it as a supplement or an ingredient for salad, Chinese customers tend to think that since avocado is a fruit, it should be good for direct consumption.
Because of its oily flavor, it was not received positively by Chinese customers right after it arrived on the market. But in recent years, a lot of Chinese consumers, especially the younger generation, are willing to try and accept new things and they are adding Western dishes and cooking methods into their daily recipes. On Weibo or Wechat, primary Chinese social media accounts, one can find recipes of avocado used in salads, toasts or milkshakes. One can also see it mixed with salmon, shrimps, pasta or added to sushi. The change in eating habits made the fruit become popular on the Chinese market. The amount of imported avocados is increasing year by year and its price is growing up. At the same time, the domestic avocado farming has also started to develop.
The quality of the fruit depends on the specific breeds, growth conditions, cultivation techniques and management policies. There is no doubt that compared to imported avocados, the quality of the domestic avocados is poor and the growing technique needs to be improved. In the past few years, experts say, root rot has been a threat to the growth of avocado. It's a devastating disease that is hard to control. The only effective way to fight it is to prevent it, because after it manifests, it is very difficult to cure it. At present, the relevant Chinese research institutions have already selected a few kinds that should have anti-root rot properties from abroad, they are being tested and the effect remains to be seen. Generally speaking, avocado industry in China is still in the primary stage of development, there are many problems that remain to be resolved. But since avocado has been appreciated by customers as a high-level product, it's market price is going to rise constantly.
