Posts Tagged “Ecuador”
The goldenberry is slowly becoming a staple of Ecuador’s fruit industry, with a strong year-round supply. It is a naturally occurring crop in most of the Andes region,
Golden Sweet Spirit, reports the U.S. has become the main destination fresh goldenberries, as consumption trends continue to lean towards more health-conscious food choices. Golden Sweet Spirit also exports to Canada, with less volume going to Germany, Holland, Spain and England.
The company exports goldenberries fresh, dried and in jam form.
With a high antioxidant content, goldenberries are particularly popular in breakfast recipes and preparations.
Ecuador’s rich soil, cheap water sources and sunny climate, with at least 12 hours of sun a day, makes up for a big competitive advantage.
Ecuadorian goldenberries are grown and harvested the 52 weeks of the year.
For Golden Sweet Spirit, current consumer price for 3.5 ounces of goldenberries averages at 4 to 6 dollars. The product can be found in select Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and Costco stores, among other popular grocery shops.
As for growing areas, the company currently has 247 acres for production and is working to increase that number tenfold by 2028, as it hopes to attract foreign capital in the coming years.
The company exports around 500 tons to the U.S., which represents approximately 80% of the production and covers less than 0.06% of the U.S. demand for berries, according to statistics, Gold Seet Spirit reports.
However, not many producing countries have the advantages that Ecuador has when it comes to this fruit, as the country is the biological center of origin for goldenberries.
The product was mistakenly named physallis peruviana, in reference to Peru. But its true origin is in Ecuador, where there are currently 36 different types of goldenberry being produced.
Following only one season of exporting dragon fruit, also known as pitahaya, the U.S. has become Ecuador’s second-largest market.
Quito-based Agricola Pitacava of Quito has shipped 40 metric tons of the tropical fruit, also known as pitahaya, to the U.S. compared to last season.
Ecuador exported 68 metric tops to its leading market, Hong Kong.
Market access by U.S. authorities was granted in June 2017, followed by the first exports taking place in September.
Some observers note the U.S. market, which now has a lot of people from Asia living it, turns out to be better than expected. Asians are familiar with red dragon fruit, as well as yellow dragon fruit.
Agricola Pitacava reports its exports to the U.S. are a little over 18 percent of its total volume of 220 metric tons, which also include exports to the Netherlands, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia.
Ecuador’s export volume to the U.S. in the first year is unprecedented. For example, it took 5 years for Hong Kong to become the company’s top export market after it opened in 2013. There is a lot of optimism regarding the U.S. market, not only because of its large population, but it has higher incomes. This is important because is seen as one of the most expensive fruits.
Pitahaya often costs around $8 per pound in the U.S., compared to HKD69 (U.S. $8.80) in Hong Kong. In Europe the pitahayas are sold by per piece at €8 – 10 (US$9 – 11.50).
Consumer preferences vary widely between the west and the east regarding dragon fruit, or pitahaya. For example, in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, there is a preference for bigger fruit, of 300g and above. However in the U.S. consumers do not for pitahaya sizes and are purchasing smaller sizes from 180g to the big fruit that could be 450g.