By 2007 the world did not know the moderate acidity of Colombian gulupa, a native Brazilian fruit that belongs to the same family as the passion fruit.
Currently, almost 3,000 tons of this fruit are being exported to Europe, Asia and America. Six years ago exports only amounted to 523 tons. Exports of Gulupa increased by five throughout the last six years from $3,954 million in 2007 to $20,455 million between January and September 2013.
The gulupa is not one of the country's leading exports, but it has gained notoriety as its foreign sales have increased 417% since 2007. Products such as bananas, which last year exported $1,200 million through November, surpass it.
This dark purple fruit with a shape that is similar to that of a tennis ball entered Europe by the Netherlands from South Africa.
The actors who make it possible for this commercial chain to end up in countries such as Germany and Belgium agree that the demand for this fruit, which is consumed in various forms in Europe, represents a great opportunity for Colombia; even though this exotic product isn't marketed in large volumes.
Currently, Colombia is competing in Europe with countries such as Kenya and Zimbabwe, where the fruit has been grown for over ninety years and is the most important agricultural product of their economy.
In addition to recovering from a decline in production thanks to the development of more resistant hybrid varieties, the South Africans countries have started to export it as a juice. This resurgence inspired Colombian businessmen to exploit the differential properties of the Colombian variety, such as its more intense and sweeter flavour.
Source: Larepublica.co