“Currently, our main business is the production of the Chinese leaf (cabbage), especially in the winter to supply Northern Europe when they cannot produce themselves,” says Nuno Almeida, Sales Manager at Frupor. “We also grow decorative foliage and snack-carrots and have tourism at our farms, which gives us year round activities. Our newest business is the production of wine, named Vicentino.”
Frupor has a property of 300 hectares, from which almost 150ha is dedicated to Chinese leaf production and is focussed on mainly exports. According to the producer, it’s not a successful product in the domestic market, since in Portugal there are many other types of cabbages that Portuguese consumers prefer, as they are more traditional. Instead, the strong demand comes from Northern Europe, and that’s why the company chose this product, 30 years ago when Frupor started.
The export season runs from November to May. Almeida says the season has been quite good. “In fact, last year – 2015 - was our best year in the production of Chinese cabbage. There was a high demand and some other country’s producers had quality problems, so we were alone in the European market for a month and a half.” He adds that both prices and volumes were excellent and adding to the usual good quality.
The company is located in the southwest of Portugal, by the sea, and winter is fairly mild, so it doesn’t cause trouble for the production. During those months, Portugal competes with Spain, Poland and Hungary, which also export. However, Almeida says that its products are of much better quality. "In winter, we are the largest suppliers to the UK and Scandinavia, as we are seen as producers with better quality. We are not the cheapest option, but we supply the best quality. " The market has been very stable in recent years, which has benefited the producer.
An interesting development is the new tryouts on red Chinese leaf. Frupor has been testing this new variety over the last year with interesting results. The interest around this new Chinese leaf is significant and promising.
"Right now we are starting to prepare for the new season. We produce from scratch, from the seed to the final product. We will start very soon with contacting our customers and to confirm the programs for next year, " he says.
As for its other product snack carrots, they began with the same approach: cultivate during the winter when other producers can’t produce. However, nowadays they produce throughout the whole year. "We have stable customers and good quality. We focus on the Baltics and Scandinavia, which are great consumers of this product, " he concludes.
More information:Nuno Almeida
Frupor
Apartado 2 - E.C. São Teotónio 7631-908 São Teotónio, Portugal
Tel. general: + 351 282 940 000
E: sales@frupor.com
www.frupor.com