"Guatemalan pea season will be better than the last"

Guatemala's pea season is about to start and, although it is still too early to know for sure how it will go, it all points to an improvement compared to the previous season.

Much better weather conditions

Luis F. Teo, of Frutesa, expects the export of peas by air to Europe to start around 20 October and, as the volume increases, they will continue by sea from mid-December, just in time for the pre-Christmas sales. "We export 95% of our total volume to Europe. This new season we want to increase our share in Germany and we are considering the possibility of starting to make shipments to Eastern Europe," explains Teo.

Compared to the previous season, when the production suffered problems caused by unseasonable rains between October and December, the exporter believes that this season the weather conditions have been much better and are also expected to remain stable. "If everything goes as we hope, this season we will have a greater production than in the last, and we hope that the quality will also very good," affirms Teo.

Uncertainty in the UK

The exporter added that current prices are stable because Europe still has some production from Kenya and Peru available, but as these countries finish their seasons, prices will rise a little, just in time for the entry of Guatemala into the market; however, the producer acknowledges that there is much uncertainty in the sector. "The UK is one of our most important markets and the fall in the value of the pound sterling will make our products more expensive, which will affect us, although we do not know yet how or to what extent. We hope to get ahead."

As for competitors, Teo assures that everything depends on the weather, especially in Africa. "At the moment, they seems to be having good weather and, therefore, they have a good volume with acceptable quality, but we'll have to wait and see what happens."

30 years of progress
Teo believes that the agricultural and economic situation in Guatemala has improved greatly over the last 30 years. "While it is true that there is unemployment in the rural areas of Guatemala, Guatemalan exporters have been contributing to change that situation for 30 years, when products for export, such as peas, started being produced in the Guatemalan highlands," he explains. According to the exporter, in these regions there used to be only subsistence crops, such as corn and beans, but thanks to many companies like Frutesa, there are now also peas and snow peas, which have significantly improved the incomes of the more than 45,000 producers who currently work with them. "I think there are still more opportunities to grow, not only because of Guatemala's excellent climate and geographical location, but also thanks to the hard working, dedicated and innovative people we have in our country. We consequently expect these products to help us improve the living conditions of our people," he assures.

PMA Fresh Summit
Frutesa will participate in the trade fair PMA Fresh Summit, to be held in the United States; a market where the company wants to export more products soon. "We believe that our 33 years of experience in the European market will allow us to make our way to this new market. This season, we will open a new 4,500 square metre packaging plant, three times larger than the one we had before, which will allow us to grow in the US market and diversify with new products."

You can visit Frutesa at stand 3373 of PMA Fresh Summit.

More information:
Luis Fernando Teo - Commercial Officer
Frutesa
Km. 16.5 Carr. San Juan Sacatepéquez, Condominio Industrial Mixco Norte. Lote A-7. Zona 6, Mixco, Guatemala
Tel: (502) 2245-5100
Email: luis.teo@frutesa.com
www.frutesa.com