The first full papaya season for Aztec Fruits will begin next week. The Mexican exporter group, which has a sales office in Leuven, Belgium, specialises in avocados, mangoes, limes, and papayas, and sees strong potential for the fruit in the European market.
© Rodolfo Meza
"We have planted a variety that is not actually consumed in Mexico but is aimed specifically at the European market. There, we see papayas becoming an increasingly valued product on store shelves," says Rodolfo Meza of Aztec Fruits.
© Rodolfo Meza
For papayas, as it had previously done with mangoes, the company has partnered with a major player to establish itself in the European market. "Since April, we have been supplying green papayas. These are not ready to eat but are intended for cooking. We extended the initial trials into May and have been sending weekly volumes to Europe since June. The reception has been overwhelming. The quality this season is very good and consistent, matching expectations. We started with relatively small volumes but have increased them week by week. Going into next month, we plan to continue this trend and believe we can compete well with other origins, offering competitive prices."
Grower Alejandro Alvarez from Yucatan
Opportunities in the European market
"With edible papayas, we will start next week," Rodolfo continues. "We had to wait until they reached the perfect ripeness, but now, together with our partner, we can begin programmes in Spain. They have had plenty of sun and water, so growing conditions were ideal. This is our first step, after which we plan to expand to northern Europe, starting with the UK and then other countries. At this time of year, production from Brazil, the main supplier of papayas to Europe, is lower, creating opportunities for us. I believe we can offer an attractive alternative in both price and quality compared to other origins. Eventually, we aim for an annual production of 1,000 tonnes, targeting Europe specifically."
© Rodolfo Meza
This is a market, the trader emphasises, with great potential for them. "We see steady growth in papaya consumption among European consumers. In Europe, papayas mainly come from Brazil, but other producing countries, including Mexico, are developing quickly. Mexico currently holds only a small share of the global papaya market, but with our climate and growing conditions, we expect to achieve significant growth."
© Rodolfo Meza
Year-round
"With a new partner, more opportunities open up," Rodolfo continues. "This requires certain certifications and quality standards. Five years ago, we could never have met these requirements, but in recent years, we have learned a lot. We still have steps to take, but things are moving in the right direction to make us attractive to customers of all sizes." Aztec expects to eventually supply papayas year-round.
© Rodolfo Meza
For more information:
Rodolfo Meza
Aztec Fruits
Interleuvenlaan 62,
3001 Hevrelee, Belgium
Tel: +32 456 18 4982
[email protected]
www.aztecfruits.com
