e first two containers with 36 tonnes of mangoes from Senegal reached the port of Algeciras, being the first time that Spain imported this popular product directly from the African country."It has not been easy, but after more than two years of hard work, on Saturday we started distributing Kent mangoes ready for consumption imported directly from Senegal, as until now these were imported via the UK and the Netherlands," explains Roberto Vidal, representative of the company Yalifrut SL. "The reason why this hadn't been done until now is because many were wary about purchasing the fruit because everything must be paid in advance."
"We just founded the company this year and this is our first campaign. We can already say that we are pioneers in the marketing of Senegalese mango in Spain!" says Roberto enthusiastically.
"These Kent mangoes are carefully selected in close cooperation with our supplier ANS Inter Export in Senegal, one of the world's best areas for mango production, according to experts," he says. With a Brix level of 9º, the fruit is characterised by an intense flavour and reddish, juicy flesh which gives it a very attractive outer appearance."
The mangoes, ready for consumption, will be marketed under the brand YALIFRUIT, "with plenty of care paid to the packaging," says Roberto. "Although we have received some calls from the market of Perpignan, in France, the fruit will mainly be distributed in the domestic wholesale markets."
Based in Benigánim, Valencia, Yalifrut was founded a few months ago by Roberto Vidal and his wife Teresa, seeking to fill a large share of the gap in the market for mangoes in Spain.
"The first 36 tonnes are already available for sale and we expect to market a total of 12 containers throughout the campaign, which corresponds to 216 tonnes of mangoes."
