Frutilami, an Ecuadorian company headed by Mayra Laniña, operates in the international market offering a variety of exotic fruits such as tree tomatoes, red and yellow pitahaya, naranjilla, granadilla, cucumber, melon, and cocoa. Its primary export is tree tomatoes, with weekly air shipments to Miami reaching approximately 144,000 kilos annually.
"This is a fairly new market in the United States. Our clients are introducing the tree tomato to Latino consumers, especially for making sauces. Additionally, the yellow pitahaya is being well received by Asian communities, and Colombia has also shown interest in the Ecuadorian tomato," Laniña explains.
© Frutilami Tree tomato
The company mainly produces in the Amazon, where it works with small growers. The goal, according to its manager, is to "guarantee safe, quality fruit for international markets."
Controlling paratrioza has been one of the biggest field challenges, as it severely affects tree tomato crops. "Sometimes, it destroys entire plantations. We have had to develop new varieties and enforce stricter controls to stop its spread. Furthermore, extreme weather patterns, droughts followed by heavy rains, and the poor condition of the roads have made access to the farms and the packing center in Quito more difficult," she explains
© Frutilami Naranjilla
Frutilami has managed to keep prices steady, which is rare in the exotic fruit industry. "We have managed to set fair prices for tree tomato, naranjilla, and cucumber producers. Since they get paid well and in a timely manner, they are not looking for other markets," Laniña stated. She also emphasized the importance of planning national production to prevent sudden price drops, as seen with pitahaya.
The United States remains the main destination, but the company also exports passion fruit, soursop, and additional passion fruit to the Netherlands and Singapore, markets that have phytosanitary permits for these products. Meanwhile, Frutilami is making progress toward obtaining approval to export Ecuadorian avocados to the United States following a recent visit by USDA inspectors.
© Frutilami
Laniña acknowledged that the temporary rise to 21% in tariffs impacted trade patterns. "There was a crucial week when orders declined, but the market quickly stabilized. We trust that the government will manage to lower it," she stated.
"Meanwhile, we continue to promote the cultivation of naranjilla, a fruit that is little known outside the country but has potential in new market niches. We want the world to discover the diversity of Ecuadorian fruits and their quality," she concluded.
For more information:
Mayra Laniña
Frutilami
Ecuador
Tel: +593 98 463 9093
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
www.frutilami.com
