Sweet potatoes for the Netherlands and Canada
Although they produce sweet potatoes all year round, the Honduran company is currently going through its slowest productive period because of the rains. The butternut squash season runs from January to May. "In total, we have about 120 hectares devoted to producing sweet potatoes and butternut squash," said Rodriguez. Sweet potatoes account for 70% of their production, and they are mainly exported to the Netherlands and Canada. "We have a good partnership with a company in the Netherlands and we have been working only with them, although they tend to redistribute our product to other European countries."
"There is good demand in Canada", he said. "The quality is also very strict. We have a very important client there."
Rodriguez said competition from the US, Egypt and Brazil was increasing. "Things are not as they were six years ago. There is much more competition from these countries, which puts pressure on the market. There are many sweet potatoes in the market".
The abundant supply puts pressure on prices and quality standards, so producers can't sell what they would normally sell, regretted the producer.
Three differentiating factors
Rodriguez said Honduran sweet potatoes were different because of three factors. The first factor is their freshness, as they are produced all year round. "We do not refrigerate them, as other countries do; We offer fresh sweet potatoes." The second factor is that, since they have a year-round offer, customers can stay with the same company all year. The third factor is their quality. According to Rodriguez, "We have a very fresh product and people know that Honduras has been producing sweet potatoes for a long time, so they are something traditional. The Honduran sweet potatoes are well known throughout the world," he said.
Weather conditions affect the production of sweet potatoes, but the Honduran weather allows producing them throughout the year. "Of course, we don't have the same performance in summer than in winter, during the rainy season."
Butternut squash
Four years ago, DeRoso Farms began growing butternut squash. "It is a culture that complements sweet potato very well. There is a window in Europe from January to June in which they need this product, and Honduras is a good supplier because it is the perfect season to grow it."
Rodriguez said there was always a good demand for this product. "At least, with our customers. There are tough months and other months are better. Right now, for example, it's summer in Europe, and consumers buy more summer fruits. Sweet potatoes sales are slower because people normally consume them when it's cold," he said. In addition, he stated, there currently is much production from Honduras because the fields had good yields.
He said the market hadn't been as slow as he expected in the last month because, despite it being summer, it has rained more than usual in the Netherlands.
About the company
DeRoso Farms is a family company that was founded almost 9 years ago and that is devoted to growing sweet potatoes. At first, they produced sweet potatoes for a local exporter but, six years ago, they started exporting their product. The company participates in fairs, such as Fruit Logistica, to promote their sweet potatoes and to find new potential customers that are open to a larger program.
More information:Allan Rodríguez
DeRoso Farms
Km 26, Valle de Jamastrán, El Paraíso, Honduras
T: (504) 9702-1080
E: info@derosofarms.com
www.derosofarms.com