Colombia has great potential to export Tahiti lime and Hass avocado

In this context, the Frutales Las Lajas Company decided to focus on the production and export of Hass avocado and Tahiti lime, "which have a logistical advantage because of their durability," said Diego Duque from Frutales Las Lajas. The company has 1,500 acres of fruit crops in Colombia, 300 of which are devoted to the production of Tahiti limes and another 300 for Hass avocado.

The company began activities in the Tahiti lime market in 2008, as it was a product that had considerable growth in the United States, the Caribbean and Europe competing directly with other lime varieties. Diego Duque said that, "Europe demands Tahiti lime especially for cocktail and culinary consumption." 

According to Duque, "Colombia's location in the tropics has its agronomic benefits because there are seasons, farmers have permanent production possibilities. Colombia is already exporting Tahiti lime to several European destinations, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and United Kingdom."

This year, Mexican exports of lime have been limited because of the negative effects of HLB, which has resulted in a competitive advantage for Colombian producers, benefiting companies such as Frutales Las Lajas. 

Colombia is still negotiating protocols to gain access for their Hass avocado to the U.S. market. The country currently has 9,000 hectares of different avocado varieties, where the Hass variety is predominant. Diego Duque said this would allow Colombia to gain importance as an exporter of avocados in a year or two. 

During the last semester, Frutales Las Lajas opened a packing facility that will allow it to start sending Hass avocados to Europe. "We're still exporting small shipments, but we hope we will ship larger volumes in the second half of the year," said Diego. 

All of the plantations of Frutales Las Lajas are certified by Global GAP on good agricultural practices and by BASC regarding control systems and security. The company has a potentially bright future because of the country's location, as it has access to both oceans, and their growth expectations. 

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