Daabon Organic Japan Co., Ltd. has been in contact with Jose Luis Tungui for some time discussing how to jointly develop the Japanese market for the Organic Avocados. Currently Frutas y Hortalizas Organicas de Michoacan, S.A. de C.V. is certified by IMO from Switzerland, in compliance with Regulation ECC No. 2092/91. Daabon Organic Japan Co., Ltd is now validating this certification to obtain the JAS organic certificate.

The Tungui family is passionate about the production of organic avocados. Jose Antonio Tungui planted his first avocado tree in 1964. Today the farm produces seventy acres of organic avocados and employs three generations that include Antonio’s five daughters, four sons and twenty-one grandchildren. One common bond in this spread of generations is very evident. They all live, talk and deeply enjoy producing avocados.

The Tungui groves grow at a 1600 meter elevation, nestled in the mountains that surround the beautiful city of Uruapan. Uruapan is Mexico’s center of avocado production, packing, processing and distribution. There are twenty-two avocado packing sheds in Uruapan that handle only fruit for export. Jose Luis Tungui manages the day-to-day logistics of the farm business and is active in an association of organic avocado growers that he helped to organize in Michoacan. Jose’s sister, Maria de la Luz Tungui, who received a degree in agriculture from the Universidad de Michoacan, manages the composting, fertility and insect controls for the family’s orchards.

Ten years ago, Jose Antonio Tungui attended a lecture sponsored by the Mexican government on farming avocados without chemicals. The speaker convinced Jose that it was possible to farm organically. This was very important to Jose because his sons and daughters handled all of the chemicals on their farm. The transition to organic production was challenging and involved many expensive experiments with products that did not work. The groves now yield about 80% of what they did when farmed conventionally but the quality of the fruit is higher and the Tungui family is thrilled that they have eliminated harmful chemicals from their farm. Today the trees are very healthy and the Tunguis provide technical assistance to other organic avocado growers throughout the area.

In 1997, the 15 organic avocado growers from the Michoacan region united to form an Association called Asociacion de Bioproductores del Estado de Michoacan A.C. This helps them to unify organic agriculture criteria, materials, and quality control practices and therefore come up with a better quality product for successful export to the United States, Europe and now Japan. All together they have 100 ha. of production and approximately 1000 tons of fruit produced every year. In 1999, the Tungui family founded their Export Company called Frutas y Hortalizas Organicas de Michoacan, S.A. de C.V. Through this Company, Jose Luis Tungui and his family are now exporting directly to their customers in different markets.

The best production season is from September to April. However, fruit can also be obtained from May to August, but in smaller quantities. Organic Avocados also have a better flavor and higher oil content than conventional avocados. We are sure that our Japanese customers will enjoy our new Organic Mexican Avocados.