During the last 12 years Tropical Source Crops has been consolidating itself as a fruit export company for the US, Canada, and Europe. After signing alliances with wholesale importers in each of these markets, the Guatemalan company has expanded its operations, exporting 89 mango containers to Europe last season.
The company's success is based on the transfer of technology between crops and the interpolation of technologies from other countries that have reached good production levels in the field per unit area.
"We have been visiting Ecuador and Peru for 4 years. For several years, we've had advisors from those countries that visit us periodically, even from Brazil, and we've been able to extrapolate techniques that have helped us increase our yields per hectare considerably," said the engineer in charge of the development of the project, Luis Monterroso.
Now the company is getting ready for a new campaign and new challenges. It is expanding its packing plant to make its facilities more efficient. When it started, it had the capacity to process 8,000 boxes per day. Now, its new and renovated facilities allow it to pack 20,000 boxes per day with the same personnel.
"This year's challenge is to take advantage of all the fruit of the main farms that supply us. Mainly the Mangrullo farm, which we expect will achieve yields of 15 tons per hectare this year. The plantation is well taken care of, we have performed all the necessary cultural work to obtain a good performance. Now that the harvest is approaching and there is good demand in the international market, we will participate more actively in the markets, mainly in the European one," he said.
The company's harvest starts in mid-April and ends in June. Europe is the main market for its mangos. Its window comes after Peru leaves the market and before Africa enters it.
"After we export the mango, we dedicate ourselves to exporting avocados, Chinese pea, eggplant, mangosteen, and rambutan," he added.
More information:
Engineer Luis Monterroso
Business Development Manager
Tropical Source Crops