Israeli avocado cooperative Global Galil and Indian nursery and orchard management company Indo Israel Avocado have partnered to establish Galil Avo India, a joint venture focused on developing a year-round avocado supply chain for the Indian market.

For Harshit Godha, CEO and Director of Galil Avo India, the partnership is the result of a relationship that began nearly a decade ago. “I first met an executive from Galilee Export, holding company of Global Galil, in 2017 when I visited Israel to learn more about avocado farming. At the time, I had no idea that we would eventually become partners,” he recalls.

© Galil Avo India Pvt LtdFrom Left: Madan Lal Sagar, Harshit Godha, Shahar Greenberg, Ronak Kanungo, Vishnu Mehra, and Manoj Mohite visiting a farm as part of the project

Since launching Indo-Israel Avocado in 2019, Godha has focused on developing avocado cultivation in India, supplying more than 18,000 Israeli avocado plants and building a network of growers across 18 states. Global Galil, meanwhile, is one of the world’s largest exporters of green-skin avocados and a major exporter of Hass avocados from Israel.

According to Godha, the strengths of the two organisations are highly complementary. “Global Galil has farms, packhouses, ripening rooms, and distribution networks around the world. They bring post-harvest and supply chain expertise that is still largely absent in much of the Indian avocado industry. Through Indo-Israel Avocado, we have developed a strong network of growers producing high-quality fruit across India.”

The long-term ambition extends beyond imports. Godha says the company aims to combine imported fruit with Indian production to create a sustainable twelve-month supply programme. “We also want to buy fruit from Indian growers and build a strong domestic supply chain. Ultimately, we want to offer ripe-and-ready avocados in India, similar to what consumers commonly find in Western markets.”

© Galil Avo India Pvt Ltd

Initially, Galil Avo India will focus entirely on the Indian market. “We believe the opportunity is substantial as avocado consumption continues to expand beyond the country’s major metropolitan centres. One of the challenges is that the best-quality fruit is usually consumed in metro markets, while consumers in smaller cities often receive fruit of inconsistent quality. We want to help address that gap.”

India’s imported Hass avocado market is currently growing at approximately 100% annually, according to Godha. “Tanzania remains the dominant supplier, while Australia and New Zealand also contribute significant volumes. Many consumers associate Tanzanian fruit with lower-priced offerings because much of the fruit sold in smaller cities is lower grade. However, there are also importers bringing excellent-quality avocados from Tanzania, particularly into Tier 1 markets.” Galil Avo India plans to source fruit from Africa, Latin America, and India under a common Galil brand, creating a year-round offering for customers.

© Galil Avo India Pvt Ltd

Alongside imports, the company is also investing directly in production. Godha and his business partner Ronak Kanungo, who serves as COO and Director of Galil Avo India, currently manage 20 acres of avocado orchards. “Thirteen acres are expected to enter commercial production this year, with an anticipated harvest of around 40 tonnes. The orchards include Lamb Hass, Pinkerton, Hass E, and Hass N varieties, selected for their suitability to Indian growing conditions.”

“These varieties tolerate higher temperatures and tend to perform more consistently under Indian conditions. Another major advantage is that combining multiple varieties extends the harvest window, allowing growers to supply fruit for five to six months instead of only two or three.”

Despite the progress already made, Godha believes India’s avocado industry remains in its infancy. “Current consumption levels are still negligible compared to where I think the market can be in five to seven years. Over the coming decade, I believe avocados have the potential to become one of India’s most important emerging fruit categories.”

For more information:
Harshit Godha
Galil Avo India Pvt Ltd
Tel: +91 91 09 107 400
Email: [email protected]
www.galilavoindia.com