The current situation is not exactly thrilling for the ethnic-exotic market, also due to the presence of seasonal fruit and the lack of a "consistently" summery weather.
"Nonetheless, we keep working," reports Giorgio Donnarumma, sales manager at Nuovafrutta. "The weather is always important for products such as coconuts, limes and mangoes. As for limes, everything made us think prices would increase up until two weeks ago, but nothing happened. It has been raining a lot in northern Italy, which is where we are based, so the summer season has never really taken off."
Brazilian limes.
"What is more, quantities from Brazil, Mexico and Colombia are limited. Actually they have been for some time. In early June, there was an overlap of produce from different origins including Columbia, Peru and Honduras, which made up for the lack of produce from Brazil. However, everything is gone now."
Prices increased again over the past few days. "At the moment, the average quote of Brazilian produce is approximately €10 per 4.5 kg crate, while the Mexican produce reaches €11. Prices reached €8-9 until last week. Consumption however is generally slow. It is still difficult to say how such high quotations will affect the season. This situation could last for a few weeks, but everything will depend on the weather."
Left: Kent mangoes transported by air from Mexico. Right: Keith mangoes from Santo Domingo.
Mangoes
"Mangoes transported by air from Mexico are almost sold at cost. Up until a couple of weeks ago, we worked rather well with produce from Mexico. Now there is no margin, as purchase prices hover between €28 and €30 per packet."
Keith mangoes from Santo Domingo, as well as the Palmer and Tommy Atkins varieties from Brazil, are also available at a purchase price of €6.50 and €8, respectively. "The volumes, which are transported by sea, are very low."
Tommy Atkins mangoes from Brazil.
"Rumours claim that the Spanish season is also not brilliant due to low volumes and small grades. Things should improve towards the end of July for other origins coming in by air, but everything is yet to be confirmed."
Mingolo yellow mangoes transported by air from Santo Domingo.
Mingolo yellow mangoes from Santo Domingo transported by air "are a niche production on the Italian market, which is a pity because it's a good fruit which should be promoted more. Our work is mainly on the ethnic markets, at an average purchase price at origin of €12. These mangoes sell well and rotation is good."
Photos - Giorgio Donnarumma
For more information:
Nuovafrutta
Via Cesare Lombroso 54
20137 Milano - Italy
[email protected]