While supplies of the pear-shaped green vegetable for Mifinca come from a Costa Rican town called Paraiso, Dominguez notes that Mexico is currently the only other country that brings chayote in on a consistent basis. “The Dominican Republic also has some small production, but it’s not impactful,” he adds. Dominguez’s grower predicts that supply will remain the same this year.
Summer means less demand
Demand however is on the lighter side for chayote. “We’re in the summer months which typically are the lower months for consumption of chayote,” says Dominguez. “Three months from now we might see more demand when the summer comes to an end.” Chayotes are mainly used in soups and other dishes like that and have more demand during winter months.
Prices though are remaining steady, largely in the $10-$12FOB range.
Along with lighter demand in the summer months, one pressing issue that chayote importers (and foreign growers) continue to deal with is the fumigation factor of the vegetable. “Fumigation affects the shelf life of chayotes,” says Dominguez. “And the fumigation rate has increased by at least seven times because of the pests or bugs commonly found in chayotes.”
For more information:
Mario Dominguez
Mifinca Fresh Produce LLC.
Tel: +1 786-203-5668
mario@mifinca.us