Supplies of Mamey Sapote out of Florida are just starting to come into volume. Dennis Sever of Exotic Growers says that the exotic item is in production year-round with a few gap periods--one in February and a second in April. Peak production right now will go until November.
There are two varieties Exotic Growers works with--the Key West and the Malagna Mamey--and both have started production. “Key West is the smaller variety and people prefer that over the bigger ones because they sell by the pound and the fruit’s very heavy,” says Sever.
More about Mamey
The fruit, which looks like a potato but with red, sweet creamy fruit inside has a thick skin. “That’s why a lot of people grow it because nothing really affects it. It’s considered a cash crop because it’s a big tree and it doesn't take much effort--you don’t need to fertilize or spray it continuously,” says Sever. The fruit is also a staple item in South and Central America and in North America, it’s more popular within Latino and Hispanic households. “Though it’s becoming more mainstream--I’ve seen it in more regular supermarkets now where it’s carried as a tropical item,” he adds.
Not only is Mamey coming into greater production but it’s also the time of year when demand for it picks up. “In the summer we don’t sell much because it’s not a summer fruit. It’s more of a fall item so we do better with it from September-December because that’s when people start buying volume of it,” says Sever.
Meanwhile, the exotic item also tends to stay steady in pricing, though while generally pricing in the summer drops to $25/box, this year it did not and instead maintained pricing in the high $30s-low $40s.
For more information:
Dennis Sever
Exotic Growers, Inc.
Tel: +1 (305) 393-1556
dennissever@icloud.com