Cape gooseberry and gulupa exports are starting to register the most interesting growth in the exotic fruit export sector in Colombia, after banana exports, which continue to be the country's most exported fruit -as in 2017 the country exported 97.8 million boxes worth USD 850 million -, and Hass avocado exports, which currently rank second place in this segment.
Total exports of this segment, excluding banana and avocado, between January and December of 2017 amounted to USD 116.3 million, where cape gooseberry was the main export fruit, with USD 27.8 million.
Cape gooseberry has a great nutritional value and, unlike most fruits native to hot weather lands, it has become an opportunity for the country's cold weather farmers, as this crop can also be grown between 2,000 and 3,000 meters above sea level.
According to Anibal Uscategui, the Head of the Foreign Trade Unit of Legiscomex, "this Colombian product increased its market share in 2017 by entering 27 markets, which were led by the Netherlands, which concentrated 60.5% of exports with USD 16,623,526 (FOB value), and was followed by Germany, with 14.2% and USD 3,922,625, the United Kingdom, with 6.7% and USD 1,875,782, the United States, with 6,1% and USD 1,708,030, and Ecuador, with 3.9% and USD 1,082,350, among others."
In addition, consumption of this fruit has been growing in Canada, Brazil, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, China, Switzerland, Panama, Hong Kong, Portugal, Greece, Aruba, Curazao, Poland, Malaysia, Bahrain, Guatemala, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Ireland, which is the smallest importer of cape gooseberry with USD 535,000.
According to Uscategui, "The gulupa, or purple passion fruit, is the other export star, as it accounts for 22.2% of Colombian exotic fruit exports. The main destinations are the Netherlands, with 84% of total exports; Germany, with 4.9%; Belgium, with 3.7%; the United Kingdom, with 3.1%, and Canada, with 1.3%, among others."
Source: elfrente.com.co