EU: Exotics increasingly available all year round

Exotic fruits are increasingly available all year round, and are being purchased by consumers during all seasons. The mango for instance, is doing equally well in summer and winter. Still, every season sees its particular preferences. Lieve Michielsen of Special Fruit NV, a worldwide importer of exotic fruit and vegetables, notices a wide range of consumer favourites: "Certain exotic products, goods that don’t grow in Europe, are popular in every season. These include coconuts, kiwanos and pepinos."

"The summers usually see a drop in exotic demand, as most other fruits are readily available during these months," says Lieve. In winter time, consumers prefer figs, papaya’s, litchi, mango and pomegranate. What really gets a boost during the summer are limes, presumably because of their 'summer flavour,' and their usage in cocktails, barbecues and desserts.

"An exotic member that sells better in autumn, winter and spring is the pomegranate," says François De Rooij, product manager of pomegranates and mangos. "Early July, the ones from Peru and Chile hit the market, followed in August by the ones from Israel. October brings us the pomegranates from the US. Because of increased cultivation, the production of the pomegranate is growing. More and more, markets are opening up to the fruit, so that it is becoming available throughout the year."

According to De Rooij, the same can be said for the entire sector of exotic fruits. "There definitely is a continuing rise. Consumers continue to eat exotic fruit, despite the crisis."