Jokofruit looks back on a tough season for overseas top fruit. This year, the importer has received considerably fewer Chilean apples and pears. Daan van der Kooij notes that not only the availability lagged behind this season, but demand as well. “Due to the expensive dollar, the fruit’s cost price was 15 to 20% higher than in 2014. In addition, the apples and pears had a shorter shelf life this year due to the continuous heat in Chile. While last year we were still able to sell the April deliveries until July, this year they weren’t great at the end of May already. Only fruit from storage in Chile can still be sold here in summer.”Always market for overseas pears
The big supply of Northern European fruit offered at relatively low prices, but particularly the high cost price, also hasn’t increased interest in overseas top fruit, he says. “Then there’s the Russian boycott. Overseas fruit can be exported, but due to the weak rouble, the products have become prohibitively expensive for many Russians.” Jokofruit, the company of brothers Daan and Hans van der Kooij, only imports top fruit from Chile, but also sees that only limited quantities of Argentine top fruit are sent across the pond. “It used to be that we sold truckloads to wholesalers and supermarkets, but the big chains in Europe sign contracts with the big exporters overseas. Lidl is now the biggest importer of top fruit from Chile. They purchase the apples directly, and are always able to offer them at competitive prices.” There is always a market for overseas pears, he says. The Abate, Forelle and Packham pears mostly go to countries like Germany, Belgium, France and the United Kingdom. In addition to apples and pears, Jokofruit also imports grapes from Chile. They also trade other fruit varieties, like pineapple and citrus, but don’t export these themselves.
Good demand for coconuts
By far the biggest product for Jokofruit are the coconuts. Years ago, the share of coconuts was only 25%, but now the product takes up 75% of Jokofruit’s total business. “This goes on all year round,” Daan says. “From across Europe, we get requests, and lately we regularly have a coconut shortage, an unusual experience.” So revenue is fine, he says. Jokofruit imports coconuts all year round. In the summer, the coconuts go mostly to the southern countries, especially Spain and Italy, where the coconut is a special summer product. “Pieces of coconut are offered in a lot of beach stalls there.” In winter, the coconuts go more to Germany and Scandinavia, although these countries are also buying more and more during summer. Eastern Europe is also an important destination for the coconuts in winter.
Nearly all the Jokofruit coconuts are imported from the Ivory Coast. The bigger and more expensive nuts are from Sri Lanka. Following a six-month export ban from Sri Lanka due to shortages, there are now regular shipments again from that country. They are looking at alternatives though, like Indonesia or the Dominican Republic, to ensure a constant supply in the future as well.
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