Supplies of guava are slim currently.
“Even if all growing regions in Mexico are active now, supply is lower than expected,” says Alberto Diaz of Spring Valley Fruits in Pharr, TX. “This year, supply is slightly lower, but demand is also higher than last year.”
Supplies of the fruit are coming from Aguascalientes, Michoacán and Zacatecas.
Meanwhile demand for guava, which is good, is expected to keep increasing at least until Christmas. And while demand comes largely from the Latino/Mexican market, it is starting to come from elsewhere as well. “Guava consumption has been increasing over the last few years. Consumers are beginning to notice that guava has nutritional value--it has more vitamin C than basically all fresh fruits available in the U.S.,” says Diaz.
Packaging switch
To meet that demand, Spring Valley Fruits has new eco-friendly clamshells to house the guava which are made of bamboo pulp rather than the traditional plastic. It reduces plastic usage by 91 percent and is biodegradable and compostable. Spring Valley Fruits is also increasing its production of the Asian guava variety. “We’re expanding our acreage. We currently have limited availability of that variety but we will have it year round,” says Diaz.
As for pricing, guava prices in the field are beginning to increase. “Therefore Guava prices in the U.S. will tend to increase in the upcoming weeks,” says Diaz. “Compared to other years, guava pricing is increasing sooner. It usually increases in December when demand doubles, mainly because guava is used by Mexican consumers to elaborate a traditional Christmas punch.”
For more information:
Alberto Diaz
Spring Valley Fruits
Tel: +1 (956) 618-2239
albertodiaz@springvalleyfruits.com
www.premiumguava.com