Last year, Fayad Fruits & Vegetables celebrated its 25th anniversary in Curaçao. Remarkably, the wholesale business of fresh produce started as a joke. Ziad Fayad, who was working for a baker then, received an unusual request from a local hotel for a crate of tomatoes and cucumbers. Not long after, they asked for papayas and watermelons. This marked the beginning of Fayad's journey into the fresh produce trade. Today, he supplies cruise ships, restaurants, and supermarkets across the Caribbean Islands with diverse fruits and vegetables.
Left Ziad Fayad in his wholesale shop
Initially, Fayad focused primarily on local produce, often sourced from places like the famous "floating market." Over time, he expanded his offerings to include imports from the United States, Venezuela, and Colombia. Today, an estimated 60-70% of his products come from Europe. "Transit time for a reefer from the U.S. is only five days, compared to three weeks from Europe. However, freight costs from Miami are significantly higher," Fayad explains.
Potatoes from Jac van den Oord Potatoes
The Netherlands is a key supplier for Fayad's Curaçao operations. "I exclusively source potatoes, onions, mushrooms, herbs, soft fruit, tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuce from the Netherlands. My biggest suppliers include companies like BUD Holland, Westland Mushrooms, Versland, Marni Fruit, and Frukar," he notes.
For exotic fruits, Fayad primarily relies on Venezuela and Colombia. However, he points out a significant issue on the islands: the lack of proper quality control. "In the Netherlands, containers are regularly rejected due to quality standards. Here, the checks exist on paper, but no one actually enforces them."
Exotic fruits such as papayas, bananas, and watermelons are among the most popular items locally, while apples and berries are less in demand. "Persian oranges, however, are selling exceptionally well," Fayad adds.
The company also supplies pre-cut fruits and vegetables to the catering industry. However, large hotels typically still process their produce in-house. Fayad acknowledges a growing challenge: finding staff. "Venezuelans are no longer allowed to work here, and with increasing tourism, the demand for labor continues to rise. In my view, the government needs to issue more residence permits."
American tomatoes
Fayad remains skeptical about the potential for large-scale greenhouse vegetable cultivation in Curaçao, citing high electricity costs and poor-quality, expensive water as significant barriers. For now, he sees ample growth opportunities in the import trade. "Sometimes, we deliver a single bunch of parsley to a customer. While it costs more than it earns, it helps us stand out in the market. Soon, we plan to construct a new storage facility to support our growth."
For more information:
Zias Fayad
Fayads Fruits & Vegetables B.V.
Jandoret 63
Willemstad, Curaçao.
Tel: +599.9 888 4440
[email protected]
www.fayadsfruit.com