Latest News From Tropical Fruit

With more than 1,500 options among its offerings, World Variety Produce had plenty of options to highlight at the Associated Wholesale Grocers' seventh annual Innovation Showcase, March 25-26.

Available April through June 2024, this marks the first "official" U.S. season for the Sweet Sugar Mango after a trial run in 2023.

The Philadelphia-based company has received its first container loads of brown coconuts from India, a relatively new supplier to the U.S. market.

Dole Food Co. is now offering dragon fruit to consumers across the western U.S. and Canada.

The dVida Co. has announced year-round availability for its mango and dragon fruit programs.

Vallarta Supermarkets’ newest store location in Carson, Calif., is taking an innovative and customizable approach to value-added fresh fruit with the introduction of La Fruteria, a fresh fruit bowl destination.  

Bananas, plantains, yuca and a variety of tropical produce could be in short supply this fall because of excessive rain in South and Central America, said Billy Mascari, of Cedro Banana Distributors.

Doral, Fla.-based J&C Tropicals has developed a tropical fruit jerky that vegans will have no beef with.

The Houston-based dVida Co. says it’s on schedule to ship over 2 million pounds of Ecuadorian mango this year and has recently added yellow and red dragon fruit to its portfolio.

The draft pest risk assessment for consumption of passion fruit from Vietnam will be available for review and comment until Sept. 9.

Goldenberry Farms launched the “Ramboos Big Adventure” game on the Apple Store and Google Play as a value-add to the product line of Ramboos rambutans.

Miami-based Goldenberry Farms began introducing tropical berries to the U.S. market in 2021, and demand has been increasing for its namesake berries since then, says Christopher Palumbo, brand director.

Like the regions where the produce originates and the people who eat them, tropicals are a diverse, beautiful lot.

Los Alamitos, Calif.-based Frieda’s Inc. has an exciting lineup of dragon fruit, including its Honey Dragons, Fire Dragons and Snow Dragons, said Alex Jackson, director of sales.

The USDA has drafted a pest risk assessment for the importation of dragon fruit (Selenicereus undatus) for consumption from the Dominican Republic.

Homestead, Fla.-based Brooks Tropicals LLC has added two new members to its sales office, says Peter Leifermann, vice president of sales and marketing.

GRAPEVINE, Texas – Sunrise Fla.-based Delina Fresh is selectively using more air freight options to combat port delays for ocean shipments of exotic produce bound for the U.S.

The Government of Panama has asked USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to authorize the importation of Mangosteen fruit for consumption into the U.S. and Territories. 

The Government of Colombia has asked USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to authorize importation of yellow dragon fruit (Selenicereus megalanthus) for consumption into the United States.

With Florida’s red and white dragon fruit supply waning, Freshway Produce is starting its yellow dragon fruit season from Ecuador in mid-October, said Jose Roggiero, president and CEO of the Miami-based marketer.

Miami-based Ecoripe Tropicals showcased its conventional and organic coconuts and ginger during GOPEX Golf.

For the past couple of weeks a certain specialty has been topping the charts on PMG — namely, loquat!

Strawberries enjoyed a third week in a row at No. 1 on PMG, while pummelos bumped oranges down to take the No. 2 spot, landing oranges at No. 3.

Strawberries retained the No. 1 spot on PMG the week of Feb. 1, but apples rose from No. 8 the previous week to take the No. 2 slot.

Pummelos were finally knocked from their weeks-long run at No. 1 when strawberries took the top spot on PMG the week of Jan. 25.

Miami-based J&C Tropicals has appointed Jessie Capote as the firm’s new CEO.

Winter is here, and given the social restrictions necessitated by the global pandemic, some would say it is the winter of all winters.

Hazel Technologies Inc. has a new partnership with Miami-based tropical produce company Fruits n’ Rootz.

Thomas Fresh, Calgary, Alberta, is offering two new packaged items: pink dragon fruit and young coconuts.

Brooks Tropicals, Homestead, Fla., has made some personnel changes in its financial department.

At its virtual exhibit at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit, Vero Beach, Fla.-based Seald Sweet International/Greenyard USA focused on the message the supplier is “more than citrus.”

J&C Tropicals, Miami, has been recognized as a Great Place to Work.

Dole Food Co. is promoting plantains this fall, and with the trend of families eating at home continuing with the COVID-19 pandemic, the company is exploring ways to include them in comfort food.

Tropical fruit shippers Seasons Farm Fresh and AMR Agro recently completed tests of Hazel Technologies products on their products during shipping and have reported successful results.

WP Produce, Miami, which grows and ships Desbry brand tropical avocados, has new retail pouch bags and displays for the green-skinned fruit.

Frieda’s Specialty Produce, Los Alamitos, Calif., suggests retailers should carry dragon fruit to give consumers an escape.

Companies have their own definition of what “local produce” means, but the consensus is the closer the better. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has removed a Mediterranean fruit fly quarantine in San Bernardino County, Calif.

Dragon fruit continues to lead the tropical pack, with gains of 21% in the past three months.

In March, tropicals were the last items on shoppers’ lists as they rushed to stock up on potatoes, apples and canned beans to survive the pandemic.  

Ecuador’s fruit and vegetable exports are not being diminished by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Pro Ecuador, the country’s export promotion authority.

Pummelos and oranges remained 1-2 on Produce Market Guide the week of Feb. 3, but avocados edged out cucumbers to become No. 3.

Ecuador is launching a fresh produce brand for export markets to highlight sustainability.

Miami, Fla.-based J&C Tropicals has received its first shipment ever of golden berries from Ecuador on Dec. 12, according to a news release.

While one might associate tropical fruits with summer months, tropicals also shine well into the fall and winter.

Guava fruit from Taiwan may soon enter the U.S. market.

Nine Colombian companies are set to present products of innovation and sustainable practices at Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit in Anaheim, Calif.

Hazel Technologies Inc., Miami, has completed successful commercial trials with tropical fruit distributors, seeing reduced shrink rates of up to 50%.

Specialty produce sales for Los Angeles-based Melissa’s World Variety Produce are growing strong, said Robert Schueller, marketing manager for the company.

Dragon fruit demand has skyrocketed on Produce Market Guide last week.