Continental Fresh’s South American mango program off to a slow start with expectations of promotional opportunities in October
Continental Fresh’s South American mango program off to a slow start with expectations of promotional opportunities in October
Mangos are one of the world’s most popular fruits, and they are enjoyed by many cultures around the world. Their unique flavor and texture makes them a versatile culinary sensation.
Continental Fresh LLC, headquartered in Miami, FL, handles mangos from Brazil. The fruit is running now and is expected to go through mid-November.
Albert Perez, chief executive officer, said the company was receiving mangos from three packing houses in Petrolina, Brazil in early September.
“These are 100 percent Tommy Atkins’ variety mangos,” said Perez. “We are marketing them under three labels: ‘Suemi,’ ‘Tropical’ and ‘Finobrasa.’”
Mango supplies, Perez noted, got off to a slow start. But the company expects promotional opportunities in October.
“Overall volumes are a bit lighter than in some prior seasons,” he explained. “And with the expectation of a late start to the Ecuador mango season, the Brazil window should be unencumbered and with steady pricing.”
In an overall viewpoint for this season’s movement, Perez expects that Continental Fresh’s mango imports will be down by about 10 percent from last season.
Marines Compres is the chief financial officer of Continental Fresh. Both she and Perez share a strong commitment to social responsibility. Perez founded LIFO Missions, a non-profit organization that develops self-help projects in remote regions of the Dominican Republic.
Since 1985 it has helped some of the poorest people to improve their living conditions, and consequently, their education, health and future prospects.
LIFO Missions supports poor villages with materials and volunteers to provide clean running water in places where it has never been available.
“We recently returned from spending the entire month of July working on the construction of two aqueduct systems in the Dominican Republic,” explained Perez. “One was three-kilometers long and it is benefitting 91 families. The other was a record 15 kilometers long, and it is benefitting 336 families.”
More information on Continental Fresh’s social responsibility efforts can be found at www.lifomissions.org and www.bluemissions.org.
