Colombia, which already exported frozen or preserved mango to the United States, has finally succeeded in opening the US market to its fresh mangoes after working to achieve this for at least five years, stated Juliana Villegas, ProColombia's Vice President of Exports.
Now, Colombia will have to compete with other mango exporters that already export to the US market, such as Mexico (61%), Peru (14%), Ecuador and Brazil (8% each), Haiti (2.7%), and Guatemala (2%). However, according to Villegas, Colombia has competitive advantages to export and enter the mango market in this country, which, according to figures from the US Department of Agriculture imported 549,000 tons of mango worth 493 million dollars in 2020.
"Our advantages include being able to produce throughout the year, having a large portfolio, and a higher level of Brix degrees," Villegas said. "Colombia's geostrategic location will allow it to export fresh mangoes to both coasts of the United States.
With this authorization to export fresh mangoes to the United States, Colombia can already export 106 agricultural products to that country, including Hass avocado, paprika, blueberries, cape gooseberries, and mandarins, Villegas stated.
What kind of mangoes does Colombia offer?
According to the National Mango Federation, Colombia produces at least five types of mangoes: Yulima mango, Keitt mango, sugar mango, Tommy mango, and common mango. These varieties differ in their sugar level and fruit size.
Colombia produces mango in 22 of its 32 departments. The main producing departments are Cundinamarca, Tolima, and Magdalena, which account for 68% of the total area planted in the country, according to 2020 figures from Colombia's Ministry of Agriculture. In total, the country produces nearly 350,000 tons of mango a year.
The price at which the mango will be sold in the United States is still unclear, but ProColombia estimates that its price could range from 3 to 11 dollars. We'll have to wait for the first shipment to arrive in the United States, ProColombia stated.
It should be noted that until the first quarter of 2020, Colombia exported its mangoes mainly to two markets: Canada (43%) and France (30%).
Source: cnnespanol.cnn.com