Colombian mango seeks place in EU market

Colombia currently has about 23,000 hectares devoted to the production of mango located mainly in the departments of Cundinamarca and Tolima.

Mango production amounts to nearly 300,000 tons per year and it is currently primarily allocated for consumption in the domestic market.

But, as stated back in 2011 a study by professors at the Faculty of Management at the University of Rosario, "the mango could be one of the top products of Colombian exports."

Colombia has the advantage of being able to produce mango for over ten months a year, which gives the country great opportunities to venture into international markets at a time when the fruit is scarce.

Another great advantage is the free trade agreements that the country has with economies like the US, Canada and the European Union markets where mango consumption has experienced a strong growth in recent years and that represent a good opportunity for the Colombian fruit to gain a place in those markets.

With this in mind, Agricultural Varahonda, a company dedicated to the production of guava, avocado and mango, among others, will begin sea exports of Keith mango to Europe.

"We have 80 hectares, 70 of which are dedicated to the production of Keith mango. It is clearly an export project because we know that our fruit has very good demand in European markets, "says Juan Felipe Correa, manager of the company.

Correa noted that, "Colombian consumers prefer the Tommy Atkins variety, because of its colour and because they already know it, but the Keith mango has much less fibres and it will eventually gain more importance in the local market."

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Juan Felipe Correa Vergara

Manager - Legal Representative