Passion Fruit becomes Colombia's most exported exotic fruit

Oscar said that Colombia has been exporting passion fruit , or gulupa, as it is known in the country, to the most important markets for about 18 years, mainly to European countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, France, United Kingdom, Belgium, and Switzerland, among others. According to data from the Colombian Ministry of Agriculture, in 2016 this product reached sales of about US $25 million FOB, displacing the cape gooseberries (Physalis) as the number one exotic fruit export in the country for the first time in 30 years. The growth in exports has been remarkable, as the country increased exports by 150% from 2010 to 2016 and positioned itself as the first exporter of this fruit in the European markets. In the year 2016, the country exported about 5,500 tons of passion fruit to Europe, thus surpassing Israel, which exported around 3,000 tons, and becoming the biggest exporter of this fruit to Europe. (Sources: MADR of Colombia and Israel).



According to the producer, the passion fruit has had a special boom in international markets because it is grown under favorable conditions that allow them to have production during the 12 months of the year. This grants Colombia an advantage in relation to its two largest competitors, Israel and South Africa, which can only produce the fruit for 6 months a year. In addition, the Colombian passion fruit exported is of the Edulis variety and it is mostly of native origin, which differentiates its flavor and appearance in general. It is very different from the varieties grown in other countries, such as Vietnam, Thailand, Australia, Turkey, Israel, or South Africa, which use hybrid varieties that have been improved or worked in laboratories. In contrast, other countries that have continued with native varieties like Colombia, are Kenya, and Zimbabwe.



Oscar Enrique Consuegra Agredo
Agroalianza de Colombia SAS
T: +573103359517
E: oscar.consuegra@agroalianza.com.co