Malaga's mango season is coming to an end while the avocado harvest is gaining momentum. In Spain, organic mango cultivation is increasingly professional and new sales channels are opening, including online, which promises to continue to grow strongly in the coming years, both for this product and for the whole range of exotic and agricultural products.
"In about two weeks we will finish with the organic mango campaign in Malaga, which has been better than we expected in terms of volume, as we have recorded an increase of between 20 and 30% over last year," says Alejandro Clavero, CEO of BIOrigen, a family business specialized in the production of organic tropical fruits whose matrix is Managú. "With the exception of some difficult weeks with ups and downs in terms of prices, we can say that we are satisfied. It should be noted that the sector is becoming increasingly professional and the fruit is improving every year, as growers are handling both the production and the harvesting better."
Alejandro Clavero, CEO of Biorigen.
At the moment, the Malaga-based company is handling the transition between the end of the Spanish season and the arrival of the first organic mangoes from Peru. "We work with avocados and organic mangoes all year round. Our family owns a total of about 100 hectares, and we also buy the production from other producers," he says.
Organic tropical fruit sales grow by between 15 and 20% annually
A little over a year ago, BIOrigen decided to launch a label specifically for the production and marketing of 100% organic tropical fruit. In line with new social demands, the brand's corporate idiosyncrasy shows a clear commitment to environmental protection and seeks to be in tune with the kind of consumer that is no longer satisfied with the quality of the products they bring to their table and is also demanding with the way in which they are produced.
"It is clear that there is interest and, therefore, a great demand for BIO products. Both companies and professionals increasingly appreciate adopting alternative approaches in the way of producing; a more harmonious and balanced vision that seeks to obtain a sustainable product."
The BIOrigen team as an exhibitor at Fruit Attraction 2021.
"This is a niche market compared to the volumes handled in the conventional one, but it is constantly expanding. In fact, every year our tropical fruit sales are growing by 15 to 20%. It is also fair to say, however, that as a result of new legislation and the way the fruit is processed, conventional fruit is becoming increasingly environmentally-friendly and healthier for consumers," says Alejandro Clavero.
"Since the pandemic broke out, online sales have skyrocketed"
The company works with wholesale markets in France, Germany and Spain and is also strongly committed to its own online sales line and marketplace through its website www.biorigen.es.
"For now, the orders made through our website are shipped within Spanish territory, although we want to expand outside our borders in the near future. Consumers can receive the product within 24h from the time the order is placed, at a similar price to that at the physical store or even more competitive, since we skip some links in the supply chain. Since the pandemic broke out, online fruit sales have skyrocketed. People see that the fruit arrives in perfect condition and enjoy the convenience of having the product delivered to their homes, so they tend to repeat their purchases."
"While we started out selling avocados and mangoes, we are now also producing organic passion fruit, pitaya and kumquat, as well as Aloe Vera. We continue to expand to other organic products from third party producers, even if they are not easy to find. We want to form a large ecommerce family of organic products in a channel with triple-digit monthly growth. We have a very clear idea of what we want and we aim to position ourselves in this segment with 100% organic fruit, as that is helping us stand out from our competitors," says the company's CEO.
Increasingly stronger competition of organic avocados from other countries
The Spanish avocado harvest started in September with green-skinned varieties such as the Bacon and Fuerte, and consistent quantities of Hass avocados are now being harvested.
"We believe we are going to have a good avocado season, as the fruit is looking very good and prices are similar to last year's. We will be competing with the avocados from Chile, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Morocco and Israel, where organic production is also expanding. Until a few years ago, it was difficult to produce organic avocados in Mexico, but they are currently available in the market, and the same applies to the Dominican Republic and Morocco, where there are many farms undergoing conversion. Competition is increasing and getting stronger. Meanwhile, we are adding trees to our own production."
For more information:
Alejandro Clavero
BIOrigen
T: +34 952 500030
alejandro@biorigen.es
www.biorigen.es