Costa Rica has announced the formation of a Chayote export group to consolidate and support exports of quality chayote from the country. Already known as a reliable top quality supplier of chayote, Costa Rica aims to bolster the quality and organization of its chayote exports even more through this new group. In 2016, Costa Rica exported $14.3 million (29,935 tons) of chayote worldwide with $9.7 million (21,989 tons) of that going to the U.S.
“Costa Rica is recognized for its high quality chayote, noted by the uniform and optimum color and form of the product,” says Pedro Beirute, CEO of PROCOMER (Costa Rica’s trade promotion entity). “The creation of this group of growers and exporters allows us even greater control over quality standards, to assist the companies with support and certifications and to provide marketing and promotional support to our customers.”
Costa Rica enjoys a good reputation with chayote among its U.S. customers. “We have been bringing in Chayote from Costa Rica for over a decade now and the quality has always been exceptional,” says Anthony Serafino, Vice President of Public Relations for EXP Group LLC in North Bergen, NJ. “Our customers love the product. I visited Costa Rica two years ago and found the farms impeccably maintained. It’s a great product.”
Jose Flores, Latino Products Buyer for John Vena Inc. in Philadelphia, PA, agrees the quality and consistency of Costa Rican chayote is excellent. “We handle it almost exclusively over other growing regions,” he says. “The product is harvested only once the squash is bright green and properly developed, as opposed to pale green as it is sometimes shipped from other sources. Costa Rican growers also supply the more rare black and white varieties we carry with solid consistency. Our customers prefer Costa Rican product – and we’re happy to handle it.”
According to PROCOMER, the Chayote export group will consolidate volumes and will be held to strict standards of transparency, quality, open and honest communication, and cooperation. All producers in the group must also meet specific certifications including Global GAP, ISSO and other licenses, as well as high packaging standards. The group consists of 11 of the most highly qualified farms representing 265 hectares (654.8 acres) of production.
“Our intention is twofold,” says Beirute. “One, it is to create an effective support structure for our producers and exporters that will allow them to continue to amply provide the world’s highest quality chayote to our markets. Second, it will provide a more efficient platform for our customers to get what they need in terms of quality, packaging, innovation and marketing.”
The Chayote group is backed by the numerous marketing efforts of the “Essential Costa Rica” initiative including branding, country-of-origin marking, website, and other promotional support. “We believe chayote has a huge potential with consumers, especially in the area of health and wellness,” says Beirute. “It’s a very versatile item and can be consumed cooked or raw, sweet or salty. It has vitamin C and antioxidants, and is high in fiber and low in calories. It’s ideal for the control of glucose and liquid retention. These are all very promotable attributes in today’s marketplace.”
Beirute believes Costa Rica is perfectly positioned for this next step to open up the chayote market. “We have perfect conditions for growing chayote in Costa Rica and we have experienced and professional growers and exporters,” he says. “We are known as a high quality producer and have ample availability of product. Our companies are highly qualified and very enthusiastic to be part of this chayote group and we look forward to seeing where our collaboration takes us and our customers.”
The Chayote exporter group will participate in several trade shows and events worldwide during 2017 including Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit in October in New Orleans, LA. The group and PROCOMER also extends an invitation to select buyers to attend a Buyers Trade Mission to Costa Rica on September 19 and 20, 2017. For more information on the trade mission or other aspects of the Chayote group, please contact Maykool Lopez, Trade Commissioner of Costa Rica in New York at Tel: 212-967-0051, or Email: newyork@procomer.com.
Source: PROCOMER