Exotic fruit companies from Panama and Nicaragua ready for a new challenge
The COVID-19 pandemic creates challenges for companies that want to export high-quality fruit. At the same time, it has made the healthy living trend more important to European consumers. This means that healthy tropical fruits are high in demand for the European market.
Sweet and flavourful papaya from Panama
Based in the western part of Panama, Panafruit is a family-run business. It has been exporting papaya for over 20 years. Panafruit used an improvement programme to develop a new hybrid: the Hawaiian big papaya. This papaya is a mix between Taiwanese and Hawaiian varieties. It is flavourful, sweet and larger than average. Another benefit is that it can be produced all year round. Other countries have varying temperatures, but the seasonal changes in Panama are minimal.
As the popularity of mango grows, European consumers expect this fruit to be on supermarket shelves all year round. How can suppliers of a seasonal fruit, whose availability depends on…
Guatemalan exporter offers Europe mangoes at the perfect time of year
Over 500 mango varieties are cultivated around the world. European and North American consumers have two, quite different, favourites. European consumers prefer the Keitt variety – greener, fibreless and with a tangy, sweet taste. In the USA, Tommy Atkins mangoes top the list. This variety is more colourful, mildly sweet and higher in fibre. Guatemala-based Amadeo Export offers both, and at a unique time of the year: from March to May.
Satisfying consumer cravings
Over the years, Europeans have acquired quite a taste for the mangoes. But getting Central American mangoes to European consumers in a perfectly ripened condition is no mean feat. Amadeo Export has its own production farms and additionally works with over 100 local farmers in Guatemala, overseeing the entire value chain, from planting to shipping. Commercial Manager Katy Stefani details: We handle the fruit with extreme care, and we make sure the co
More colour and a brighter future for Nicaraguan red pitaya farmers
Thanks to its vibrant colour, fresh flavour and nutritional benefits, pitaya, or ‘dragon fruit’, has become a popular ingredient in fruit drinks, smoothies and desserts. Although commonly associated with Asian cuisine, this fruit is native to Central America.
Nicaragua-based agricultural development firm Burke Agro hopes to re-introduce European consumers to certified organic Nicaraguan red pitaya – a variety that offers higher amounts of pigmentation than others as well numerous health benefits. Nicaragua is currently one of the largest growers of organic pitayas in the world. To help local farmers access new markets, Burke Agro, a branch of Sol Organica S.A., recently decided to export three varieties to Europe: Lisa, Rosa and Orejona. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, these plans were delayed, but Burke Agro is on track to export certified organic and Non-GMO red pitayas to Europe in June 2021.
Honduran okra aims to compete with longer shelf life and year-round availability
Although okra is widely used in Caribbean, Creole, Cajun and Indian cuisines, many European consumers have yet to discover its unique texture and flavour. Thanks to the power of the Internet, more and more Europeans are embracing the nutritious value of this versatile vegetable. As interest grows, Honduran producer Agrícola Antar is expanding its business to Europe. The firm aims to compete with producers from other parts of the world with okra that has a longer shelf life, higher quality and year-round availability.
After many years running an ice-cream factory, Antonio and Argentina, a couple from Choluteca, Honduras, decided to look for new ways to benefit the local community. After some feasibility studies, they found that okra had the potential they were looking for and they established Agrícola Antar. Today, the company Antar is one of the biggest okra exporters in Honduras, with 50 full-time