Colombian fruits are taking more and more orders from abroad. At least that was the case at the MacFrut 2018 fair, one of the most important fruit and vegetable fairs in the world, which was recently held in Italy.
There, more than 70 European and Asian companies made orders to Colombian entrepreneurs in the sector for more than 210 million euro. They demanded fruits like pineapple, avocado, mango, gulupa, granadilla, cape gooseberry, and banana, among others. The companies interested in the Colombian fruits are mainly from the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, France, Spain, and the Arab Emirates.
A total of 25 Colombian producers and marketers of fresh fruit and tropical fruits, which are preparing to increase their production to meet the requirements of foreign companies, participated in the fair, stated the CEO of the International Colombian Corporation (CCI), Adriana Senior.
According to her, Colombia's participation in MacFrut shows that the country has the potential to sell its fruits and vegetables, which are very healthy and have an exquisite flavor, worldwide.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Juan Guillermo Zuluaga, said that their objective was to strengthen the Colombian fruit supply to increase exports significantly.
The official, who inaugurated the fair, also said that another of their goals was to increase per capita consumption of fruits and vegetables in Colombia. Colombians barely consume 90.5 kilos of fruits and vegetables per year, while the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends eating 146 kilos.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development highlighted that in 2017 Colombian agricultural exports to Italy had amounted to US $220.1 million.
He said that Colombia had showcased all of the potential that the country's agriculture has in fresh fruit at the MacFrut fair, but acknowledged that the leading products in the national export basket were bananas, coffee, and palm oil.
According to the data, of the US $ 220.1 million that Colombia sold to Italy, US $ 118 million (54%) correspond to fresh or dried bananas or plantains; US $71.4 million (32%) to coffee; and US $ 12 million (5%) to palm oil and its products.
However, sugar cane, beet, cocoa and flowers exports to Italy, which account for 3.6% to 4.4% of exports, are increasing.
Colombian fruit exports abroad amount to US $1,036 million. Exports to the European market amount to US $ 800 million and account for 77.2% of all fruit exports. The main export products are bananas, avocado, pineapple, mango, lemon, and Pasifloras. The countries that demand Colombian agricultural products the most are: Belgium, United Kingdom, Italy, and the Netherlands.
Source: dinero.com