Colombia focuses on export of mango

Colombian fruit company La Hondura has only recently entered the export market. “We have been producing fruit for years already, since 1986, but only officially started exporting this year,” says Juan David Correa Hoyos. La Hondura focuses especially on the export of mangoes, and is located in Betulia, Antioquia.

Juan David Correa during Macfrut 2016.

Big in mangoes
“We have a total area of 1,140 hectares and four business units, two of which are fruit: mango and citrus. The mango area is 400 hectares, that of oranges and tangerines is almost 200 hectares. Of mangoes, we mostly offer the Keitt strain (55 per cent). The Tommy strain amounts to about 35 per cent, and, additionally, we also produce the strains Kent, Vandyke and Atahulfo,” says Juan.

Focus on Europe
The total harvest volume in 2016 is estimated at 3,612 tonnes. “As I said before, this is the first year we will export, and it is looking good so far. We are already exporting to the UK and Germany, and we are hoping for more European buyers, including Italy and the Netherlands.” According to Juan, only a few Colombian companies export mangoes. “It is new for our country to export mangoes in any case, so focus will definitely be on that in the coming years. After all of the unrest in Colombia, things are fortunately settling down again, and investments are once again being made in the cultivation of fruit and vegetables and other agrarian products. We see many opportunities for the export of our fruits.”

For more information:
Juan David Correa Hoyos
Gerente General
LA HONDURA S.A.
Tel. (4) 3221900
Calle 85A 48-68 - Itagüí, Colombia.
www.lahondura.net