The exotic fruit market grows exponentially

"Exports of tamarillo, yellow pitahaya, and naranjilla are growing so much that last year two entrepreneurs from Mexico and Ecuador decided to partner to create EcuMex Foods, a company that markets perishable products, to market our exotic fruits," stated Jimmy Villalba Salazar. 

Villalba is in charge of the Ecuadorian part of the production, where they harvest exotic fruits such as pitahaya, which he says "has a better quality than the one produced in Colombia, even though the latter is more famous. Our pitahaya is harvested using the best agricultural practices and also benefits from being from the Amazon region, where the plantations are located."

"The pitahaya from Ecuador is sweet and has a juicy pulp. We also have the GLOBAL GAP certificate to export to the United States, Asia and Europe, which are markets where we are looking for more business opportunities, like in Japan, where we've already contacted some customers," Villalba said.

The pitahaya is becoming one of the most coveted fruits in Europe due to its pleasant flavor and large amount of nutrients, medicinal properties, vitamins, minerals, high fiber content (especially in its seeds); Captina, a substance that helps to tone the heart and calm the nerves; and other elements such as ascorbic acid, which regulates blood pressure, Thiamine, which promotes the control of diabetes, and Riboflavin, which is beneficial for the eyes. 

EcuMex Foods plans to market 12 tons of pitahaya per week and is in direct contact with producers to continue increasing their capacity. 

Villalba said the tamarillo and naranjilla were new products for them, and that they were in the process of letting their customers know about them. With the incorporation of these tropical fruits, EcuMex seeks to expand its offer and have a greater assortment of products. "We have customers who come to Ecuador and ask us for this type of fruit because they want to start selling them, so we believe this is a great business opportunity," he said. 

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