Carrot supplies coming out of Guatemala look to have a healthy volume. That said, demand has evened out creating a lot of supply available.
“For us, there is a lot of local competition from US domestic carrot growers, but this year we have detected an even higher drop,” says Mariel Hidalgo of Guatemala-based Pakil Awal. “During January to May of this year, compared to 2016 sales during that time, we had an approximate reduction of 50 per cent in the exports of that product.” Pakil Awal exports carrots throughout the year to the U.S., Canada and parts of Europe and their line of products includes “baby” products such as carrots, corn and squash.
Prices dropped
Not surprisingly, prices are on the low end for carrots. “Because there’s too much volume, prices are between $5-$7/box. It’s usually above $10/box,” she says. Hidalgo does however anticipate the market stabilizing soon. “We’re in negotiations with customers to promote other types of vegetables such as baby,” she says. “So we have faith that we’ll have more demand in special presentations of product and that the market will stabilize.”
Meanwhile Pakil Awal has recently upgraded its automated process line incorporating machinery in its Sumpango Sacatepequez plant in Guatemala. “Our previous machinery was only for washing produce and the machine that was implemented includes selection bands, hydro cooler and forced air drying,” she says.
Improving shelf-life
Once product arrives at the plant, it first receives hydro cooling and washing, then product is selected. From there, a subsequent hydro cooling and washing process is also done. “We emphasize that the products receive both the hydro cooling treatment and double washing,” she says. “The plant's production manager has tested and performed this procedure and found that the new equipment extends shelf-life by 30 per cent.
