Mission Produce opens avocado packing facility in Guatemala to strengthen global supply

GUATEMALA – Mission Produce has officially opened its new avocado packing facility in Guatemala, strengthening its supply chain to meet the rising global demand for fresh Hass avocados.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony, held on April 24, 2025, brought together high-ranking officials, including Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo and U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala Tobin Bradley.

The facility is part of Mission Produce’s strategy to build a steady, year-round supply of avocados. It comes as demand continues to grow in markets such as the United States, Europe, and Asia.

“This investment in Guatemala supports our mission to be a reliable global supplier of the World’s Finest Avocados™,” said Steve Barnard, CEO of Mission Produce.

“Guatemala brings strong value to our supply strategy because of its favorable growing conditions and harvest timing.”

The location of Guatemala, along with its two harvest seasons, allows Mission Produce to reduce seasonal gaps and improve efficiency.

The company emphasized that the new facility will help improve quality control and offer fresher produce to customers in the UK, Europe, and beyond.

The packhouse is designed to meet strict quality and safety standards. According to Mission, it features modern technology for grading, sorting, and managing fruit temperature.

These upgrades are meant to maintain the condition of the fruit through shipping and delivery.

U.S. Ambassador Tobin Bradley welcomed the development. “The U.S. market is hungry for avocados. The demand is there, and with continued collaboration and high standards, Guatemala is in a position to take advantage of this great economic opportunity,” he said.

Juan Rodolfo Wiesner, President of Mission Produce South and Central America, emphasized that Guatemala’s potential is backed by long-term preparation. “Guatemala is a rising force in the global avocado industry, and Mission Produce is leading the development of the region for global avocado production,” he said.

“Modeling the success of our vertical integration in Peru, our farming and packing operations in Guatemala are built to produce high-quality avocados from the ground up.”

Mission Produce started farming operations in Guatemala in 2020 through a long-term lease of the Cerro Redondo avocado farm. By the end of fiscal year 2024, the company had planted 728 hectares, with plans to expand to 1,000 hectares by 2026.

This latest move also follows other industry activity in the region. Just last week, Fresh Del Monte and Polish firm Citronex Group confirmed the launch of their joint banana production project in Guatemala.

That project, focused on 1,000 hectares of bananas in the Pacific lowlands, is expected to begin harvesting in 2026 and signals growing confidence in Guatemala’s role in the global fruit trade.

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