This time of year, jackfruit volumes from Mexico’s state of Nayarit are lower. While the region offers year-round production, volume usually picks up in February with the harvest peaking in June/July. In August, production gets slower and lower volume continues through December and January.
“We just started with jackfruit again,” says Cindy Delgado with Peakopia. The decision to start offering jackfruit is driven by the relationship between Peakopia and their grower. “We have a great relationship with our grower with mutual trust, and he is our supplier for several other items. He grows beautiful fruit and in addition, he has the necessary certification,” she shared. Not only the right certification for the fields, but also for the packing house. Delgado feels this is a good time of year to get back into jackfruit as demand is expected to pick up in a few weeks when kids go back to school, and people get into their normal routine.
Asian population
The fruit is grown in open fields and harvested by hand. It is packed in Mexico and from there, it takes two days to truck the fruit to Peakopia’s distribution center in McAllen, TX. From the warehouse, the fruit is distributed within Texas, but also makes it way into the Northeast and Canada. While India is thought to be the place of origin, fresh jackfruit available in the US market is fully supplied by Mexico. From Southeast Asia, the fruit would have to be shipped by air while Mexico has the competitive advantage of transportation by truck. The Northeastern part of the US and Canada are Peakopia’s main markets with the Asian population being the largest consumer. “I think 90 percent of jackfruit consumers are Asian,” Delgado shared.
Peakopia sells their jackfruit in a box and consumers can choose between 1 ct., 2 ct. or 3 ct. “Our Asian customers prefer boxes with three pieces.” The fruit is sold per pound, currently running at $0.54. “This is a good price. Normally, it is in the $0.40s,” said Delgado.
For more information:
Cindy Delgado
Peakopia Produce
Tel: (+1) 956-777-4072
[email protected]
www.peakopia.com