Guatemala has just ended their avocado export season with good demand and sales across Europe and the United Kingdom. But it has been challenging says Luis F. Teo from the export company Frutesa, as they head towards the end of their snow and sugar pea export season too.
Luis F. Teo from Frutesa
“We are very happy with avocado season that just ended. We are happy that our clients are satisfied and the market was good. Guatemala exports mainly Hass avocado with very good organoleptic properties, because we grow them between 1 200 to 2 000 meters above sea level. Although Guatemala is a small country, we have an incredible diversity of micro-climates, rich volcanic soil while the weather helps our avocados to be so good,” states Teo.
Guatemalan avocado exports are focused on Europe and Central America because Guatemala still doesn’t have market access for avocados in the US. “Avocados are originally from Guatemala and the southern part of Mexico. We were the first company to export Guatemalan avocados to Europe and last season we exported 50 containers during our season that lasts from September to February-March. Frutesa´s sales go 99% to Europe, but now as part of our diversification strategy, we want to expand to the US and Central America. Guatemala´s transit time by boat to Miami Port is only three days away and one and a half hours by airplane. Guatemala´s Ministry of Agriculture and the USDA are working very hard on the protocol for Guatemalan avocados to eventually have access into the US market in about one years’ time,” explains Teo.
Frutesa´s main products are snow peas (mange tout), sugar snaps and avocados. “Our avocado exports focus on the UK market where we have more stable prices across our season, meanwhile with the snow peas and sugar snaps we have direct clients in the UK, Republic of Ireland, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden and Switzerland. Indirectly through sales from our clients, our products also reach Eastern European countries like Poland, Romania, Czech Republic, Hungary, etc.”
Teo says that, unlike avocados, it has been a very difficult season for the snow peas (mange tout) and sugar snaps production, mainly because of a combination of factors. “The weather in Guatemala has not helped us. The restrictions of pesticides from EU, which is banning very important molecules that help us grow to meet the quality standards that the EU requires. The molecules are very helpful to grow in a tropical country like Guatemala, which has excellent weather to grow many fruits and vegetables, but at the same time this excellent weather is becoming a nightmare. The tropical weather also provide the perfect conditions for lots of insects and fungus to grow. Last but not least, there are delays with boats and also delays in ports of Europe.”
The growing structure for the snow peas and sugar snaps in Guatemala is that Frutesa works with thousands of micro and small growers in the highlands of the country, grouped into associations, cooperatives and committees.
“Frutesa signs contracts with the groups of growers and we give them technical assistance, finance and help with production. With the pesticide restrictions it is very tough for them to understand we need to stop and use less chemicals, which most of the times translates in less yields, less quality and shorter shelf life of the product. Frutesa is investigating and looking for more solutions that will help control the fungus and insects, but the solutions that we have found are very expensive and not cost effective for the business,” emphasises Teo.
He is also proud that Frutesa is celebrating 40 years as a business this year. “The company was founded by my mom in 1983. She has been a pioneer in the exports of fresh produce from Guatemala to Europe since the beginning,” Teo states proudly.
For more information:
Luis F. Teo
Frutesa
Tel: +502 42109290
Email: luis.teo@frutesa.com
www.frutesa.com