The only finger lime growers high up in the mountains of Guatemala find that increasing shipping, labour and other input costs are the main challenges keeping them from expanding exports to Asia. Prime Tropics currently export to Europe where there is an ever-increasing demand for their product.
The finger limes grown on 15 000 trees on 17 hectares by Prime Tropics is situated in a unique micro-climate high up in the mountains. “Fertilizers and airfreight are the two highest input costs where we have seen an increase. We believe the more we can expand the better. Right now our sales are focused mainly in Europe but we are aiming to sell in Asia and Canada this year. Asia has a big demand for finger lime, but airfreight limits us in that market. As we produce more volume we might find more accessible alternatives,” says Edilson Hernández from Prime Tropics.
Besides finger limes Prime Tropics currently grow, harvest and export Rambutan and Mangosteen, with Durian to follow in the near future. “All of our products are certified with Global Gap and SMETA. Our major challenges this year are costs. The rising prices in fertilizer and airfreight will be hard to sustain in the future at this rate. Hopefully prices will come down next year,” says Hernández.
Due to the unique location of their supplying farms, which are all situated at or higher than sea level across Guatemala, Prime Tropics is able to produce the finger limes year-round to supply to export markets. The high season for them to Europe is during December where importers in countries like Italy, Germany and the Netherlands are regular clients. “We sell mainly to wholesalers and importers in Europe. Our goal in the future is to be in grocery chains,” says Hernández.
"We aim to expand the business with 5 000 more trees. Our demand has been growing in Europe these past months. We started selling and exporting in the middle of the pandemic. As restrictions ease, demand grows,” states Hernández.
For more information:
Edilson Hernández
Prime Tropics
Tel: +1 (502) 570 00052
Email: [email protected]
