The year began with steady Central American pineapple imports, and, barring unforeseen bad weather, supplies are expected to remain steady through the rest of the year. As a result, prices have stayed near $10.00 per carton through the first month of the year.“Costa Rica supplies pineapples for the U.S. market all year,” explained Sandy Gatanio with Ayco Farms in Pompano Beach, Florida. “They will have ups and downs with volume, but, right now, they're volume is neither high nor low.” Signs point to a prolonged steady market with prices at or near $10.00 per carton.
“At the current price range, it's not a great or a bad market,” said Gatanio. “Sometimes demand gets weakened when competing products are available. But we're not at a time of year when pineapples are being replaced by other fruit.
“A lot of growers in Costa Rica are putting firm prices on fruit only for the reason that the processed market is high enough,” noted Gatanio. “If prices get too low here, they can go to the processing market.” Those domestic pressures in Costa Rica have, in turn, kept fresh shipments from getting out of hand.
Ayco Farms will be at this year's Southern Exposure that takes place between March 3 and 5 in Hollywood, Florida. You can find them on the show floor at booth #111.
For more information:
Sandy Gatanio
Ayco Farms
+1 954 788 6800