FALLBROOK, CA - The Big Game is this weekend, believe it or not, and as customers prepare to get their home spreads purchased and prepped, Del Rey Avocado’s Patrick Lucy shares with me that there is still plenty of volume to promote, however at higher prices than anticipated.

“With California starting early, it gave West Coast retailers an opportunity to feature some local fruit for Super Bowl after a rough start to the year on volumes due to the disrupted work weeks,” the company’s President shared, happy to report volume has now caught up to demand. “The biggest challenge for buyers and the industry in general this season is price. The shortage of volume starting the year shot prices up 50-75 percent from before the holidays. However, the quality from Mexico is very good right now, and the size curve has improved.”

In short, there are options on all sizes for the Super Bowl and beyond.

One thing that Del Rey Avocado is a big believer in is to carry plenty of different SKUs for your shoppers, retailers, assuring options in the versatile avocado space.

“One thing I would suggest is to cross-promote other items with avocados. One example that a lot of retailers have success with is having avocados, tomatoes, cilantro, onions, and spices grouped together on an island display. With tortilla chips around it, you make a one-stop shop for guac,” Patrick states. “But there are a lot of other recipes and items you can do this with to help generate more rings at the register. Avocados can be used in so many ways, you do not want to limit customers by only carrying one size. Give shoppers options to allow them to use avocados in different recipes. Multiple recipes then turn into them buying more ingredients on that trip, which is win for the store.”

Even after the Big Game on Sunday, we enter into Valentine’s opportunities and avocado’s sneaky talent of becoming a key ingredient in chocolatey items like mousse or cake, or even in a gelato for all the sweethearts and friends out there.

As the next avocado season ramps up, AndNowUKnow will report the latest.