Brazilian guavas and avocados are in demand in Europe and the UK, where they are doing well, says Gideao Guilherme, CEO and Sales Manager of the trading company Fresh Quality in Brazil. "Guavas are more required by ethnic groups that live in Europe and Canada, as this fruit is very popular in their countries and reminds them of the feeling of their original homes."
He says Brazil has a stable market in the UK and France for the guavas. "Importing companies already noticed the difference of the flesh colour and sizes of guavas from Brazil. However, we are mainly still competing with production from Egypt, Thailand and India. The window from April to September is the time that most companies come after our guavas in Brazil, due to the gap from their others suppliers. The weather is starting to be colder over here, which makes our production in Brazil lower and slower. Those who started importing from us first will have the priority," states Guilherme.
In 2023 Brazil exported 459 tons of guavas and in 2022 it was 490 tons, the total value was the same says Guilherme. The average price was USD 2,55/kg fob Brazil in 2023.
Tropical avocados offering
Fresh Quality also exports tropical avocados from Brazil. "We compete with the Dominican Republic on the rounded and big avocado named Margarida. Most of this variety goes to a few importers in France. It's a very competitive market on price. The fruit holds well when properly prepared, it lasts for more than two weeks. We have other varieties as such Breda, Fortuna and Quintal. Those varieties are totally different from Margarida, which has a thin skin, is shiny, taller and mostly looked for in Spain," says Guilherme.
The company exports a range of other products grown in Brazil that include sweet potatoes, dragon fruit, ginger, Kabocha Squash, mangoes, starfruit, limes and a range of exotic fruit.
High inflation in Europe worrying
He says while the airfreight rates improved a lot making their products more competitive, the higher inflation in Europe that is dampening consumer spending is a challenge. "With the improvement on air freight rates this year for almost all destinations, we believe conditions might be better to increase our sales on both products. The only concern is the economic situation in Europe, in which people seem to be worried with the inflation, which is a situation that is not normal for them. In Brazil we are used to dealing with inflation, so we already know how to work with it," states Guilherme.
For more information:
Gideao Guilherme
Fresh Quality
Tel: +55 15 99611 3025
Email: [email protected]
www.freshquality.com.br/products