Seasons Farm Fresh exports rambutan from Honduras to North America, shipping about 25,000 pounds weekly via air during the season, and is now offering a streamlined program including clamshells to help retail sell this unique fruit.
“We have worked over the past eight years with our cooperative of growers to bring consistent volume and growth to customers all across the U.S. and Canada,” says Gabe Bernal, vice-president at Seasons Farm Fresh Inc. in Miami, Florida.
The company exports rambutan from Honduras to North America, shipping about 25,000 pounds weekly.
Bernal says having a rambutan program brings diversity to a retailer’s shelves and entices shoppers to head to their stores for this unique item. “The popularity of this item has grown exponentially each year since we started in 2015,” he says. “It has moved from being a nostalgic item to becoming a well-known treat for those who originate from or have traveled to Central America or Southeast Asia, as well as for millennials who love this ‘hairy’ fruit.”
Bernal says the fruit’s appeal is due to its distinct aesthetic and portability. “With its soft ‘hairs’ on the outside and juicy white/clear fruit on the inside, which is extremely refreshing, it stands out,” he says. “It’s a great grab-and-go snack for kids and adults who want to try something new rather than the average grape, blueberry or cherry.”
The company offers the product via a clamshell program and five-pound bulk boxes.
In addition to the five-pound bulk boxes, the company also offers a clamshell program of six 12-ounce clamshells per box (120 to 150 boxes per pallet). “These are flown in by air starting in July with fixed pricing until November,” says Bernal. “We control all of the operations and logistics so that the buyer only needs to focus on receiving the product or picking it up from our Miami warehouse. Our goal is to make the implementation of this product as streamlined as possible for customers.”
The program is backed by a state-of-the-art packing facility and hydro-cooling system in Honduras. “This has helped extend the shelf life and outside appearance of our rambutan,” says Bernal. “We see less blackening of tips on the outside of the fruit. Our farms and warehouse all have food safety and Global GAP certifications in place to ensure the integrity and quality of our product.”
Bernal encourages buyers to reach out to discuss the opportunities in rambutan. “We welcome conversations with buyers and merchandisers,” he says. “We can work with them to make POS material as effective as possible. The only way to grow a program is to support the retailers who believe in our vision behind this product-- that rambutan will be a household name in bite-sized fruit within the upcoming years!”
For more information:
Priscilla Lleras-Bush
Seasons Farm Fresh Inc.
[email protected]
https://seasonsfarmfresh.com/