Kent mangoes from Peru marketed under the Monna Lisa brand.
According to one of Hispalco S.A.'s largest mango producers, "no campaign looks like the previous one." Last season, for example, the fruit was sold from the start at very high prices and there were constant shortages, finishing the season with really high prices.
"This campaign we expected overproduction and started with low or average prices that were followed by further price drops," he explains. "Afterwards, prices registered a considerable increase, of almost 10 cents per day, tripling at some points compared to the start. We were purchasing fruit at 75 cents per kilo and we ended up buying it for 2 Euro per kilo from the grower," he affirms.
Consumption, from Hispalco's standpoint, has been on the rise with the spread of the idea that mangoes are suitable to be eaten all year round. Through the importation of mangoes by plane, both Spanish suppliers as well as marketers are able to increase their annual projection.
For Pepe Beltran, manager of Hispalco, "mangoes are highly valued by the markets and appreciated by consumers, as it is a fruit that allows for many combinations. If there is a focus on supplying good quality and the market does not become saturated with sub-par produce, the upward trend will continue."
As for mango consumption in Spain, "unfortunately, its development is not considerable," continues Beltran. "If Spain consumes more mangoes it is because we have inhabitants from Latin American countries like Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Brazil or Bolivia, where mangoes are largely consumed, but this is not the case of Spanish consumers, who are only gradually discovering them," he points out.
Regarding the continuous expansion of Spain's mango acreage, Beltrán says that "the acreage is growing at the same pace as consumption, and as a result of the good prices obtained each year. There is still room for further growth," he says. "This has been the same with avocado, for example. Four years ago, its average consumption in Europe was only of 3 million kilos, and last year, the continent's average consumption stood between 6 and 7 million kilos per week, with prices that have remained high."
With brands like Monna Lisa®, Unicorn® and Hispalco®Bio, the Valencian company markets its mangoes under the Ready-to-eat concept. "It is the most common way to market mangoes. We do not sell fruit that doesn't meet the right conditions of quality, colour and ripening for the Ready-to-eat segment," stated Beltrán.
For more information:
Ana Beltrán
HISPALCO, S.A.
C/ Barranco Pascual, 45. Pol. Ind. Campo Aníbal.
46530 Puzol, Valencia. Spain.
M: +34606686319
T: +34 963404422
[email protected]
www.hispalco.com