The export of processed pineapple from Colombia has increased steadily over the past year. At the same time, the production problems Costa Rica has been suffering in recent months have helped increase the demand in the South American country. "Demand from the US has increased and we believe that this happens because they have the need to find new suppliers. Given this situation, we have expanded the crops and increased our production of MD2 pineapples," explains Nicolás Delgado, of Olmué Colombia.
The Colombian export market is growing and there is an increasing diversification of the production. "Colombia has a great potential as a producer, as thanks to its climatic diversity, it is possible to grow the fruit all year round. Although the country is not yet a strong exporter of fresh pineapples, the shipment of processed pineapples is growing faster than expected. This is mainly because by making use of the IQF freezing process, we are managing to cover part of the demand for the product," affirms Delgado.
In Colombia, there is a need to seek alternative business lines that can ensure stable economic returns. If we take into account that the country is moving gradually forward in its specialisation on crops that meet worldwide requirements, we can say that it certainly has the potential to compete as an exporter of pineapples.
