As jackfruit transitions growing regions, supplies remain solid right now.
“We’re just finishing with our Chiapas, Mexico season and moving well with Nayarit, Mexico. We are working with four to five loads per week,” says Vicky Cabello of Cabefruit Produce LLC in McAllen, TX, noting that its packaging includes one, two and four-piece boxes with most of its volume falling into the two-piece box range.
The Cabefruit Produce team with Vicky Cabello (center).
Cabello adds that supplies are similar to last year at this time but says that they are increasing given supplies are coming from the two regions right now. As far as competing product, along with Nayarit, supplies are also coming in from Thailand for processed jackfruit.
And despite the pandemic-related challenges around logistics and travel, Cabello notes that since they've been working with jackfruit for almost 10 years, logistics continue to run smoothly. “We always use a Texas point of entry because it gets directly through to our warehouse,” she adds.
Marketing small pieces
Demand for jackfruit continues to be steady, especially from the Asian and Latin American populations who are more familiar with the product. “But we’re also working on developing a marketing strategy to increase the demand in retail stores with our smallest pieces,” says Cabello.
All of this means that pricing is steady right now. “It’s a bit lower compared to last year—we are around .40-.45 cents/lb.,” she says noting that with the increase on volume, she hopes prices will continue to stay steady.
Looking ahead for Cabefruit, by the end of the month, it plans to introduce a new line of six different jackfruit products. “It will be a full line of healthy and innovative products in the processed industry that will go along with our popular Jackmeat product,” says Cabello. (Jackmeat is being marketed as a meat replacement product.)
For more information:
Vicky Cabello
Cabefruit Produce LLC
Tel: +1 (956) 686-7359
vickycabello@cabefruitproduce.com
www.cabellogroup.com