Mangos could become an important crop for one Guatemalan exporter over the coming years. They have started offering Keitt and Tommy Atkins mangoes and see a window of opportunity during March and May. The success of the crop could have a large impact for the local community.
Short harvest periods and differences in climate zones mean that one single country or one mango variety cannot offer a long supply season. Guatemala is situated right in between Peru and Mexico, offering mangoes at a time of year when no other country can. “Our area, Zacapa, has a very arid microclimate. Each plantation has their own irrigation system in place, and mango is one of the few crops that thrive here.” export manager Katy Stefani from Amadeo Export says.
Amadeo Export started targeting the European market six years ago with Tommy Atkins. “Only this year we came with the Keitt variety, and we’re expecting a 20% increase in terms of export capacity over the next couple of years. Aside from planting the new variety, our company has qualified for GLOBALG.A.P, SMETA and GFS certifications. We also joined CBI’s Connecting Central America programme in 2018. This helped us to prepare effectively for the demanding European market and to connect with the right buyers. Our advantage is that we offer Keitt and Tommy Atkins mango in a favorable time-window for Europe, from March to May.” Stefani explains.
In a climate zone so hostile to so many crops, the success of Amadeo Export’s mangoes has a huge impact on the local community. The company collaborates with over 100 local farmers and hires over 750 workers during picking season. “It’s exciting to see how people’s mentality is changing,” Stefani reflects. “Our partners trust us and are hopeful for the future. They see that there is enough work and that together we are building something for the next generations.”
Make a virtual Farm tour at Amadeo Export here. They can be met in a virtual B2B meeting via the CBI B2Match platform. You can also get in touch or find out more via the Amadeo Export website or their Facebook page.
Amadeo Export is being promoted by the Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries (CBI) as a part of CBI’s Connecting Central America initiative. This initiative is co-financed by the European Union and coordinated by the Secretariat for Central American Economic Integration (SIECA).
For more information:
Katy Stefani
Amadeo Export
Mob: +502 3003 0065
Email: katy@altobasogroup.com
Arno van der Maden
Mob: +506 884 74 746
Email: arno@nsdeltropico.com