Export demand shifts Morocco’s Loukkos acreage from strawberries to avocados and berries

Growers redirect acreage toward export crops

Morocco’s Larache province is undergoing a rapid change in its agricultural mix as growers in the Loukkos basin allocate more land to avocados, blueberries and raspberries. Strawberry acreage, long associated with the region’s export-oriented fruit industry, is declining as producers reassess crop returns, labor requirements and access to foreign markets.

According to Tanja24, farms and packing and sorting facilities are preparing for an avocado season in which production is expected to exceed the previous season’s level. The anticipated increase reflects better climatic conditions and a higher share of fruit reaching the sizes sought by overseas buyers. No production or acreage figures were disclosed.

The shift is changing both farm investment and the infrastructure surrounding production. FreshPlaza, cited by Tanja24, reported that new packing and sorting units are entering operation alongside the expansion of avocado activity. The additional capacity should help the region grade, handle and prepare larger volumes for export while supporting the commercial value of the crop.

Europe remains central as exporters seek new outlets

Zouhair El Dissouria, director of Global First Greenland, said marketing of green-skinned avocado varieties would begin in September. The industry is targeting European markets while also seeking wider access to other destinations, including Canada. Diversifying outlets could become more important if the expected increase in supply raises the volume that exporters need to place during the season.

Loukkos benefits from its position near Morocco’s northern ports, which has helped Larache establish itself over recent decades as one of the country’s leading centers for strawberries and other berries. That logistical advantage remains relevant as the production base becomes more diverse. Packing, cooling and export facilities are expanding around crops that producers regard as offering stronger foreign demand and more attractive marketing margins.

Blueberries and raspberries are also gaining acreage. Tanja24 linked their expansion to overseas demand and the improved position of Moroccan fruit in European supply chains. The development indicates that the regional change is not simply a switch from one crop to another: Loukkos is building a broader export portfolio in which avocados and higher-value berries occupy a larger role.

Labor costs weaken strawberries’ position

Strawberries are losing ground partly because their economics have become less favorable for some farms. The crop depends heavily on labor, particularly during harvesting, leaving producers exposed to higher production costs and difficulties securing seasonal workers. Some growers are therefore replacing strawberries with crops they consider more attractive in terms of value added and foreign marketing opportunities.

Avocados and selected berry varieties are attracting a growing share of agricultural investment because of export demand, marketing margins and the supporting expansion of packing and cold-chain capacity. These considerations are gradually redirecting both capital and land away from a production model historically centered on strawberries.

The transition nevertheless leaves growers and exporters dependent on the performance of external markets. Higher avocado output will require enough demand, suitable fruit sizes and sufficient handling capacity to move the crop efficiently. Access to Europe remains central, while efforts to reach Canada and other destinations offer a way to reduce reliance on a narrow group of buyers.

For processors, packers and traders, the changing crop mix creates demand for facilities capable of handling products with different grading, cooling and shipment requirements. For producers, the decision rests on whether export prices and market access can compensate for crop establishment costs and production risks. Loukkos is consequently evolving from a basin identified primarily with strawberries into a more diversified production center shaped by overseas demand.