In 2014, the Dominican Republic exported a total of $389.3 million dollars in fruits and vegetables, i.e. US $297.3 million in fruits and $92 million dollars in vegetables, according to data provided by the National Statistics Office (NSO).
The biggest fruit exports took place in May ($28.3 million dollars) and July ($28 million dollars). The biggest vegetable exports, in December and March ($10.1 dollars and $8.9 million, respectively).
Edible fruits
According to the preliminary data, 76.2% of the edible fruits exported by the Dominican Republic in 2014 corresponded to fresh or dried bananas and plantains ($226.67 million dollars); 13.7% to dates, pineapples, avocados, guavas and mangoes ($40.8 million), and 10.1% to other fruits ($29.83 million dollars).
Overall, the UK was the main destination for the Dominican fruits in 2014 with $90.1 million dollars, followed by the US, with $37.5 million dollars. 46.9% of these exports were of avocados.
Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers
The vegetable exports with the highest values in 2014, according to their category, were:
· Fresh vegetables ($ 41.8 million), i.e. peppers ($27.1 million), eggplant ($7.1 million) and squash ($2.3 million), among others.
· Green beans, beans, pigeon peas and broad beans ($ 13.6 million).
· Roots: cassava, taro, yams, mapuey and sweet potatoes ($9.7 million).
· Exports of fresh and chilled tomatoes generated $7.9 million (52.2% of which were sent to the US), while the cucumber and pickle exports amounted to $ 7.3 million (92.1% to the US).
65.7% of the vegetable exports ($60.5 million) were destined for the US market, 13.2% ($12.1 million dollars) to Haiti and 8% ($7.4 million) to Canada.