Australian and Guatemalan Achacha growers work together to expand market

A tropical fruit grower in Guatemala has helped expand the Achacha market, with a major company in the northern hemisphere, Prime Tropics, now producing the fruit from May to August. The Achacha (achachairú, Garcinia humilis) has been available from Achacha Fruit Plantations in North Queensland for several years, with a season from January to April.

The Australian company pioneered the commercialisation of the Achacha, which originally comes from the Amazon Basin in Bolivia. Described as being “sweet, tangy, refreshing - like a sorbet” demand for the fruit has been growing both within Australia and internationally as consumers have become aware of its unique taste and health properties.

Marks & Spencer in the UK has been carrying the fruit for the last several years, and more recently it has reached the Hong Kong, Vancouver and Toronto markets, albeit in relatively small quantities. Bruce Hill from Achacha Fruit Plantations has welcomed the arrival of the Guatemalan fruit.

“This extended season is bound to increase the popularity of the Achacha, especially in European markets, encouraging more retailers to carry the fruit," he said. "Until now it has been difficult to maintain supplies on a regular basis but the extra volume available, over a longer time period, will be great.”

Prime Tropics’ Roberto Quintanal would like to export the Achacha to the US, which already receives approximately 1,000 tonnes of their rambutans annually. However as a “new” fruit, it has yet to receive import approval from the US Department of Agriculture, despite considerable demand and several years of effort in anticipation of the fruit being available this season.

“We are Global Gap certified, and are supplying the UK market now, with exports to Europe through Madrid being planned” says Quintanal. “We also have mangosteens and next season finger limes will be available.”

Until now the minimum economic shipment has been 1.3 tonnes, approximately 30,000 pieces of fruit, as Australian air freight is paid on the basis of full LD3 containers, which is a large volume for a relatively unknown product. Access to the Guatemalan Achachas enables importers to trial smaller quantities, about 350kg, due to different air freight pricing from Central America. The shipment could also be a mix of Achachas and rambutans, as they travel at the same temperature.

The Australian and Guatemalan companies are working together in a unique north-south informal arrangement to make the Achacha known to and available in as many markets as possible. Hill and Quintanal say they are both passionate about the fruit and its properties. They want to work together from different sides of the equator, in different cultures to add to their enjoyment in promoting worldwide sales of the Achacha.

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