Your AVO360 Guide: Redefining Avocado Engagement in 2025

At West Pak Avocado, we pride ourselves on being customer-obsessed. Our team of Avo Experts is dedicated to ensuring our customers have a year-round supply of only the highest quality avocados. That’s why we source our fruit with care and implement rigorous quality checks to meet and exceed the expectations of our customers worldwide.

Our new programs and initiatives for 2025 include the AVO360 program with heart-healthy initiatives, new regional bags, sourcing and distribution efficiency, prep for the Big Game, and the all-new AVO360 Resource Center.

West Pak’s Full-Circle Approach to Customer Obsessed: Our Experts Weigh in

Our AVO360 program, launched at the International Fresh Produce Association show in Atlanta, GA, in October, offers a unique full-circle avocado experience. This innovative program provides our customers with an exclusive seed-to-store journey, personalized avocado experiences, and West Pak’s legendary customer service.

“The AVO360 program builds upon West Pak’s long-standing dedication to providing the absolute best fruit quality and service level for our customers to support their avocado category through every season. We are proud to call ourselves customer-obsessed and work hard to cater to our customers’ specific yet diverse needs with best-in-class service and customized avocado experiences that help drive sales.”

Mario Pacheco, CEO

Building strong, long-lasting relationships with our customers is at the heart of what we do. We invest in consistent communication and support to ensure our retail and foodservice customers know they are valued and understood. That’s why we believe open communication is key. We actively seek feedback and use it to continuously improve our products and services, adapting to evolving customer preferences and needs.

Our commitment to our customers extends to providing custom solutions. Whether it’s tailored packaging, specific ripening options, or flexible delivery schedules, we strive to meet the unique needs of each client.

We also believe in empowering our customers with knowledge. By offering educational resources through our new portal, we enable them to make informed choices about their avocado category and help drive more sales.

2025 Heart-Healthy Planning: Making Nutritious Choices

As people strive for a healthier lifestyle in 2025, understanding the role of nutrition in heart health becomes increasingly vital. Avocados stand out among the array of heart-healthy foods due to their rich nutritional profile and beneficial fats.

“It’s important to have a strategy to promote the heart-health benefits of avocados. By highlighting the ways to incorporate avocados into a healthy diet, we can inspire more consumers to make informed dietary choices that support cardiovascular wellness, ultimately enhancing overall health and well-being.”

Jennifer Zendejas, Director of Sales & Business Development

Avocados are often highlighted for their heart-health benefits, and various initiatives can promote these advantages.

Nutrition Education Campaigns: Distributing information about the heart-healthy fats found in avocados, such as monounsaturated fats omega-3 fatty acids, and their role in reducing cholesterol levels can help people understand the benefits of incorporating avocados into their diet.
Cooking Demonstrations and Classes: Offering workshops that teach healthy cooking methods featuring avocados can encourage people to include them in their meals. These classes can focus on preparing heart-healthy dishes using avocados as a primary ingredient.
Recipe Development: Creating and sharing healthy recipes that showcase avocados can inspire individuals to cook heart-healthy meals. This can include smoothies, salads, dips, and more that highlight the nutritional benefits of avocados.
Community Events: Participating in health fairs or community events to share information about the heart-health benefits of avocados can increase awareness and encourage consumption.
Social Media Outreach: Utilizing social media platforms to share infographics, testimonials, and tips on the heart-healthy benefits of avocados can engage a broader audience and promote awareness.

By promoting these initiatives, the message about the heart-health benefits of avocados can reach more individuals, helping them make informed dietary choices.

Avocados are a nutritious addition to a heart-healthy diet for several reasons:

Healthy Fats: Avocados are rich in monounsaturated fats, which are known to help lower bad cholesterol levels (LDL) while increasing good cholesterol levels (HDL), leading to a reduced risk of heart disease.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Avocados contain omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for heart health. Omega-3s can help reduce inflammation and lower blood pressure, contributing to overall cardiovascular wellness.
Fiber Content: Avocados are high in dietary fiber. A high-fiber diet can help lower cholesterol levels, improve digestion, and maintain a healthy weight, all of which are important for heart health.
Rich in Nutrients: Avocados provide a variety of vitamins and minerals, including potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure. Adequate potassium intake can counterbalance sodium effects and reduce the risk of high blood pressure.
Antioxidants: Avocados contain antioxidants, including vitamins E and C, which help combat oxidative stress and inflammation in the body. This can further support heart health by protecting blood vessels and tissues.
Low in Sugars: Avocados are low in sugar and have a low glycemic index, making them an excellent option for maintaining stable blood sugar levels. This can be important for preventing conditions like diabetes and its associated heart risks.

Incorporating avocados into meals—such as in salads, sandwiches, smoothies, or replacing fatty spreads—can be a delicious way to enhance heart health while enjoying their creamy texture and flavor.

There are many educational resources available for consumers, including:

Regional Bags & Logistics: Efficient Distribution

As part of our latest innovations for 2025, we’ve launched a new series of bagged avocados showcasing three key growing regions: California, Mexico, and Colombia. This initiative is part of West Pak’s AVO360 Full-Service Experience, designed to enhance the avocado shopping experience for retailers and ensure a consistent year-round supply of unmatched quality backed by customer-focused insights.

“Our latest retail bags beautifully showcase the rich culture and culinary heritage of our primary sourcing regions. These designs reflect the vibrant traditions of these communities and celebrate their diverse flavors, unique stories, and customs. This connection allows our customers to appreciate the origins of our fruit and fosters a deeper appreciation for the artisans and farmers who contribute to our offerings.”

Joe Nava, Vice President of Sales and Business Development

Here’s what each region offers:

California: Renowned for its favorable climate, California’s fertile, sun-soaked hills provide ideal growing conditions for premium, limited-edition avocados. The California bag invites consumers to savor the locally grown goodness of avocados from the Sunshine State—a sought-after ingredient in healthy cuisine.

Mexico: Known for its vibrant culture, rich traditions, and delicious food, Mexico is the birthplace of avocados. Its abundant, year-round harvest is the ultimate source of green goodness, producing a delightful flavor that inspires colorful celebrations worldwide.

Colombia: Food plays a central role in social gatherings and celebrations in Colombia, reflecting the country’s deep-rooted culinary traditions. The tropical climate, fertile soil, and ample rainfall give Colombian avocados their creamy texture and rich flavor.

West Pak’s new bags will be available according to each country of origin’s harvest seasons, starting immediately for Mexico and Colombia and in early spring for California.

Efficient Distribution

Through our mastery of transportation logistics and ripening technology, West Pak promises avo-excellence with safety as a top priority. Our modern processing facilities, expert ripening services, and strategically placed distribution centers utilize the latest technology to ensure superior quality, perfect ripeness, and on-time delivery to meet every customer’s exact specifications.

The benefits of our logistics in supplying global demand:

Quality Assurance: Our approach ensures that avocados meet high-quality standards by utilizing advanced ripening technology and modern processing facilities. This consistency in quality is crucial for maintaining customer satisfaction in the global market.
Timely Delivery: Strategically placed distribution centers help optimize delivery routes, ensuring products reach customers on time. This reliability is essential for our customers who rely on fresh produce to serve their customers effectively.
Minimized Waste: Efficient transportation logistics and strict cold chain management reduce the time avocados spend in transit, and help eliminate spoilage and waste. This efficiency benefits the environment and improves profitability by maximizing yield.
Flexibility: The approach allows for adjustments based on customer specifications and demand fluctuations. With a responsive logistics system, West Pak can better cater to changing market needs.
Safety and Compliance: Prioritizing safety in transportation logistics ensures that the avocados are handled and transported in a manner that complies with health standards, promoting safe consumption in all markets.
Customer Satisfaction: Meeting exact specifications and delivering high-quality products on time enhances customer trust and loyalty, which is vital for long-term success.
Scalability: Our modern infrastructure and processes allow for scalability, enabling West Pak to expand its reach and supply capacity as global demand continues to grow.

Overall, this logistics approach positions West Pak to effectively meet the challenges of global avocado supply while prioritizing quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.

The Big Game Preparation

It’s estimated that about 54 million avocados are consumed every year for football’s biggest day, most notably for everyone’s favorite gametime guac, salsa, and other delicious dips and dishes. But it’s not just gameday consumption that has avo sales soaring – between the playoffs on the pro side and gaining popularity for college ball, about 250 million pounds of avocados are consumed during the four weeks leading up to game day in February.

“To ensure retail outlets and foodservice venues are stocked and ready not only for the Big Game but for the weeks leading up to it, now is the time to place orders. We can help customers strategize volume and ripeness to keep up with the highest demand of the year.”

Heath Shoup, Vice President of Sales and Product Management

Because demand increases this time of year, it takes more planning to ensure enough green goodness for everyone. That’s why West Pak taps various countries of origin, including Mexico and Colombia, to deliver in the weeks before the game, culminating in the biggest bump days before.

It’s also advised to strategize the level of ripeness for these deliveries. Retailers and foodservice should consider a mix of ripenesses to cover immediate needs, like payoffs or the days leading up to the game, with the steady purchases from avo regulars.

The February game isn’t the only sporting event to plan and merchandize for; in fact, the popularity of avocados has spread to baseball, basketball, and soccer. Anytime there’s a tailgate or watching party, there’s an opportunity to increase avocado sales. In addition to planning for any bump in volume, it’s essential to tap merchandising opportunities through any of the participating commissions or get creative to turn generic displays into a sports enthusiast’s haven. Cross-promotion has also proven effective by pairing chips with avocado bags and bins and other makings for a gametime nosh.

AVO360 Resource Center: Tools and Support

Our new AVO360 Resource Center is an online portal that offers exclusive content and insights, as well as marketing and merchandising support for West Pak customers.

“Our new Resource Center is not only a convenient asset for our customers in support of their avocado category but is a continuation of our ongoing commitment to their success. With 24/7 availability, they’ll find everything from a company overview, latest news, and downloadable assets to individual retail and foodservice centers to suit their specific needs.”

George Henderson, Senior Marketing Manager

The benefits of the AVO360 Resource Center for customers include:

24/7 Access: Customers can access the Resource Center anytime, allowing for flexible support and information retrieval that fits their schedules.
Comprehensive Content: The center offers a wealth of resources, all designed to support avocado category management.
Strengthened Engagement: The Resource Center enhances customer engagement and satisfaction by providing exclusive content and insights, creating a better overall partnership.
Exclusive Educational Content: Signing up for the Resource Center gives customers access to educational materials and newsworthy content tailored to their interests, helping them stay informed and competitive in the market.
Custom-Tailored Programs: The portal also supports impactful branded avocado packaging, options for country-of-origin bags, heart-healthy brands, certified organics, and digital marketing support, ensuring that customers receive products that align with their unique needs.
Personalized Support: Tailored assistance in areas such as category management, sales strategies, education, marketing, and merchandising helps customers effectively drive sales in their retail or foodservice operations.

These features collectively empower customers and enhance their success in the avocado category.

Conclusion

We are excited to launch several key initiatives and programs in 2025 to enhance our customer-obsessed approach. From the AVO360 Program’s unique seed-to-store experience to initiatives supporting heart health and the upcoming Big Game to new offerings with regional bags and comprehensive Resource Center, West Pak remains dedicated to our customers’ success.

Connect with one of our Avo Experts to learn more about the AVO360 program and/or any of our initiatives for 2025 here. Plus, sign up to access the AVO360 Resource Center and receive exclusive educational and newsworthy retail and foodservice content tailored to your interest.