Spain: Condition of pineapples at retailers, key to consumption

Generally, the pineapples shipped from Central America to Spain must travel for an average of 25 days from the time they were harvested, having to first go to the port of Rotterdam, in the Netherlands, and later to the port of Marin, in Galicia, to be distributed to the rest of the Spanish territory. This process prevents the fruit from being able to remain on the shelves for very long without it losing its organoleptic properties.

From this concern, the working methodology of the small operator BriBri Fruits was created. The company, based in Barcelona and partnered with growers in Costa Rica, is extremely sensitive about the quality of all its products.

Bribri Fruits seeks to differentiate itself in the market by specialising in the production and import of small calibre MD2 pineapples, among others, and with a transit time after harvest no longer than 12 days.

"We work with small cooperatives in Costa Rica, where the fruit is packed about five days before its departure to Europe, arriving directly to the port of Tarragona in between 12 and 13 days, which ensures that the product will have a shelf life of about fifteen days at the point of sale," stated Ruben Sorroche. "It certainly is a key differentiator in terms of quality, and with prices that are not much higher than those of conventional pineapples. The most demanding retailers appreciate this, although pineapple sales, as with many other horticultural products, are strongly influenced by prices," he adds.

Furthermore, Rubén Sorroche is also committed to selling smaller calibres, after analysing the latest consumer trends. "Among all calibres we supply, the 9 and 10, weighing 1,000/1,100 grams, have the most practical size, as they contain one or two servings. This allows for the whole fruit to be consumed at once, thus preventing having to keep it in the refrigerator, where it will lose its properties," he affirms.