“Our main market for this fruit is Canada, as the protocol to import into the U.S. from Guatemala has not been approved yet,” says Marc Holbik of Ecoripe. “We’re excited to bring this amazing new fruit to the Canadian market. It’s always a challenge to introduce new fruits into a marketplace, but we feel the combination of its great taste, consistent quality, shelf life and health attributes will make the Achachairu a success.”
The fruit, a golden egg-shaped fruit whose inner white flesh texture is sorbet-like but has a sweet and tangy taste, will be packed in 5lbs (2.2kgs) boxes and ship direct by air. The shelf life is approximately 21 days with an optimum storage temperature at 16°C+ (60°F).
Production coming
While the orchards on the tropical pacific coast of Guatemala are still very young, harvest of the more than 45 hectares currently planted has begun. “We do expect to have over 1 million lbs. available for the 2017 season,” says Holbik. “This season will be the first that the orchards are producing exportable volumes and thus the first season we’re shipping to Canada.” Shipments to Canada begin the first week of July.
While Ecoripe is hoping for steady pricing and supply of the product throughout the season, it is looking to stock the fruit in health food for greengrocer types of stores first. “Although the large format supermarkets have become very good at being on top of the new exotic items becoming available,” he says.
And for now, it looks as if Canada will be the main North American market for the product. “We’re not sure when we would be able to target the US market, as the protocol must be developed through government channels of both countries,” says Holbik.
For more information:
Marc Holbik
Ecoripe Tropicals
Tel: +1-305-330-5927
marc@ecoripe.com
https://ecoripe.com/