Fresh Food Produce

outh America is a diverse conti- nent, rich in microclimates and soil that are ideal for the cultivation of Super favorful fresh fruits and vegetables. With growing seasons that comple- ment gaps in U.S. production, Sdemand for fresh produce from South American South countries continues to swell. Among the leading suppliers of fruits and vegetables to the , six South Ameri- can countries — , Peru, Ecuador, , Brazil and Colombia — are in the top 15, according America to the congressional report “Te U.S. Trade Situ- ation for Fruit and Vegetable Products,” by Renee Imports increasingly help meet the demand Johnson, a specialist in agricultural policy. Chile, our most signifcant South American for sensational superfoods. supplier, is tied for third with China, accounting for an 8 percent share of total import value of fruits and By Jennifer Strailey vegetables to the United States. Only Mexico and Canada provide our country with more produce. While the nation’s appetite for fresh fruits and veg- etables year-round is driving imports, advancements and increased efciencies in the global supply chain are creating more opportunities to meet demand.

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Colombia and Ecuador As a leading importer of bananas, plantains and Shoppers are pineapples, Coral Gables, Fla.-based Turbana at- eager to infuse tributes 82 percent of its business to South American exotic flavors imports, specifcally from Colombia and Ecuador. into their “Since our inception in 1970, Turbana has invested in social and economic projects within our dishes.” growing regions,” says Marion Tabard, director of —Marion Tabard, marketing. “Over the years, we have continued to Argentina Turbana adapt our operational efciencies to ft the grow- Te second-largest country in South America, Ar- ing demand of our business, which has led to an gentina is well known for its fertile soil and diverse increase in imports from these regions.” growing conditions that permit the cultivation of a Tabard further notes that an increase in more wide variety of agricultural products. According to consistent weekly sailings of South American the U.S. Trade Ofce, U.S. imports of agricultural shipping lines has also allowed for an increase in products from Argentina totaled $1.8 billion in imports from these countries. 2013, with wine, beer, and fruit and vegetable juices Te largest importer of plantains and one of the representing the lion’s share. largest importers of bananas to North America, Argentina is also becoming an increasingly im- Turbana notes that its best-sellers from South portant supplier of to the United States. America are bananas, pineapples and plantains. While Chile is responsible for the majority of our “Tese tropical fruits ft into the larger, more fresh blueberries from the Southern Hemisphere, recent culinary trends — fusion cuisine and Argentina is No. 2, notes the U.S. Highbush Blue- healthy eating habits,” observes Tabard. “Shop- berry Council, in Folsom, Calif. pers are eager to infuse exotic favors into their Wish Farms, a Plant City, Fla.-based grower, dishes. For instance, by incorporating our plan- shipper and year-round supplier of tains into a Hispanic-inspired dish, customers and blueberries, recently revealed that its upcoming are able to experience a unique, favorful twist, Argentina program is projected to double while also receiving their daily dose of vitamin in volume over last season. Te company expects to GrowinG A and potassium.” see the frst signifcant volume of blueberries out of ThrouGh hooPS Tis October, Turbana will participate in the Argentina during the frst week of October, with sup- wish Farms’ Argentinean Marine Corps Marathon (MCM), located in the plies continuing through November. Te timing will blueberry crop Washington, D.C., area, as the event’s ofcial segue perfectly into what Wish Farms anticipates will is safe from bad banana sponsor and composting partner. “Since be another strong season for Chilean blueberries. weather under 2012, we’ve fueled MCM runners with 30,000 “Our blueberry team continues to focus on hoops. bananas yearly through our Powered by the Peel steady, controlled growth,” notes Wish Farms initiative,” notes Tabard. Director of Blueberry Operations Teddy Kouk- oulis. “Tis season, our new partnership with a signifcant grower helps solidify our Argentina program and stabilize vol- ume for our customers.” Wish Farms estimates it will market nearly 1.5 million pounds of Argentinean blueberries this year. To protect the crops from rain, which can negatively afect the Argentine blueberry harvest, many of the blueberries will be grown under hoops or tunnels that provide protection from inclement weather.

Brazil Ask Robert Schueller, director of public relations for Los Angeles-based specialty supplier Melissa’s Produce, what’s hot and trending in South American produce, and “Brazil,” is the frst thing he says. From Tommy Atkins Mangoes (from August to November) to Papayas (year-round), Brazil is an increasing

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source of tropical fruit imports for Melissa’s. When it comes to papayas in particular, our nations are well matched, as Brazil is one of the world’s leading exporters of papayas, while the United States is the world’s No. 1 importer of them. Te Produce Marketing Association (PMA) has its fnger on the pulse of Brazilian produce. Last month, the Newark, Del.-based organization held its second annual Brazil Fresh Connections event in Sao Paulo. “Te full spectrum of the fresh produce industry attends — suppliers, growers, wholesalers and super- forecast for the country’s fruit production, Brazil- markets,” asserts Nancy Tucker, PMA’s VP of global ian authorities predicted a signifcant increase in business development. “For now, we focus primarily production for six fruit crops: melons (39.3 per- on fresh fruits and vegetables,” she continues, noting cent), apples (31.2 percent), grapes (21.1 percent), that PMA hopes to expand the event to include foral. papayas (12.6 percent), mangoes (25.9 percent) Brazil is currently the No. 3 global producer of and bananas (9.1 percent). fresh fruit, according to PMA. In addition to the fruits According to International Trade Centre (ITC) mentioned earlier, the country is a signifcant producer data, the value of fresh fruit imports from Brazil into of oranges, bananas, apples, grapes and pineapples. the United States is $55 million. While this number While Brazilian orange and apple production represents a decline in recent years, U.S. mango sup- are forecasting declines, tropical fruit produc- plies from Brazil have increased 30 percent in volume tion is increasing. However, in the frst 10-year as U.S. mango consumption has continued to rise.

Supply Chain Management tential pest problems be treated to mitigate the risk. Currently, three At Flagler Global Logistics, an integrated provider of supply principal treatment methods are chain management services, new technology in tandem with a used on fruit and vegetable imports: I think we’re new Miami-based facility is shortening travel time from farm to cold treatment, irradiation and about to see a table, and extending the shelf life of South American produce, fumigation. change in the including blueberries, grapes and asparagus. Flagler’s patented fumigation pro- whole global “If you think about a global supply chain, we can feed the cess reduces temperature fluctua- supply chain, so world — all commodities are grown year-round — but the sup- tions and condensation on the fruit. that we can take ply chain has been ineffective,” says Chris Scott, Flagler’s CEO. It also offers enhanced airflow during anything grown “I think we’re about to see a change in the whole global supply fumigation, cooling and storage. chain, so that we can take anything grown in the world at any To quantify the benefits of its in the world at time and get it where it needs to go.” new, patented technology, Fla- any time and Coral Gables, Fla.-based Flagler’s patented, USDA-ap- gler hired The Illuminate Group to get it where it proved fumigation process for perishables, which uses a lower conduct a quality study of perish- needs to go.” controlled temperature than traditional methods, is now avail- ables that tracked product from the —Chris Scott, Flagler able at the new treatment facility in Miami, allowing Chilean farm to the distribution center and Global Logistics grapes to come through south for the first time. measured numerous data points throughout the cold chain. The Illuminate Group found that perishables fumigated by Flagler have an additional seven to 10 days of retail quality shelf life compared with traditional fumigation. “They found that the product actually decays at a slower rate than it does normally,” notes Scott. The south Florida facility will further save time and money for produce going to the Southeast and as far west Previously, these grapes, along with other South American as Texas, he adds. produce, including blueberries, ginger and asparagus, were Currently, most of Flagler’s volume is from Argentina and required to go through a treatment facility in Philadelphia. Peru, but this may expand as the company grows. “We’re After treatment, the produce would then go through Miami. looking at creating more facilities,” says Scott. “I anticipate a The USDA requires that any imported produce with po- huge push forward in the next five years.”

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Peru “Peru is really evolving as a player, with quality and volume in both U.S. and European markets,” asserts Xavier Equihua, president and CEO of the Peruvian Avocado Commission (PAC), in Wash- ington, D.C. “In the last 10 years, we’ve seen the transformation of Peru from a small exporter of fruits and vegetables to one of the largest exporters As part of of superfoods to the world.” the Monumental Avocados, blueberries, pomegranates and more campaign, PAC worked are cultivated in Peru’s ideal growing conditions. with 2,600 Walmart stores during the month of “Peru is often called a natural greenhouse,” notes July to conduct demos of Peruvian avocados. Ad- Peru is really Equihua. “It’s blessed with incredible growing con- ditional promotions were held at Ahold USA and evolving as a ditions, and water sourced from the Andes Moun- Wakefern Food Corp. stores. Additionally, radio player, with tains is a key ingredient.” spots were aired in more than 50 markets. quality and Tis year marked the third season of the Monu- “Te radio spots were very unique in that the volume in mental Avocados from Peru campaign. In the past 30-second spots incorporated the name of the both U.S. and three years, avocado exports from Peru to the United retailer from the start,” observes Equihua. “It European States have tripled, from 50 million to 150 million worked very well.” markets.” pounds. What’s more, Peruvian avocados are only PAC is currently ofering a 145-page online available Stateside for three months of the year. cookbook for grocers. “We’re ofering it to retailers —Xavier Equihua, “It’s amazing how well the fruit is doing,” says who want to link to the cookbook on their websites Peruvian Avocado Equihua. “Tere were weeks [this summer] that Pe- or through Facebook,” notes Equihua. Commission ruvian avocados commanded a higher price than any Beyond avocados, Peru exports blueberries and other imported fruit. It was a frst for the category.” grapes to the United States, and Equihua hopes to add pomegranates to the list next year. “Peru will have a wonderful window in the fall for blueberries at their peak,” he explains, adding that the country is in the process of plant- ing more hectares of the fruit. “Peru is also an emerging giant on grapes, and doesn’t compete with U.S. production,” says Equihua. “When people think of grapes, they think of and Chile, but Peru has been substantially increasing production.”

Chile As the southernmost country in the world, Chile boasts long harvests that contribute to favorful fruit. According to the Ofce of the U.S. Trade Rep- resentative, U.S. imports of fresh fruit from Chile total $1.6 billion. Grapes account for nearly half of the import volume, while apples, avocados, berries and stone fruit round out the majority of the remaining volume. Tis year marked the frst year that Chilean clementines were imported into the United States. Te clementines were available May through August, and were fol- lowed by late-season mandarins (W. Murcotts), which became available last month. Supplies are expected to continue through October. PG

138 | Progressive Grocer | Ahead of What’s Next | September 2015