North Bergen, NJ-based Exp Group LLC is the largest importer of tropical fruits and vegetables from Latin America to the United States. It is a multinational organization based on several companies, and has numerous brands under its umbrella.

Combined, the brands create a highly efficient network of production, importation, exportation and distribution of tropical fruits and vegetables from the Caribbean, South America and Central America. It has particularly strong banana and plantain programs, and its Rosita brand yuca program is garnering great response.

Anthony Serafino, the son of company president, Emil Serafino, serves as vice president of public relations for the family firm.

“We have reintroduced the Rosita brand yuca,” said Serafino. “Previously we grew the yuca in the Dominican Republic, but now we’re growing it Costa Rica, and getting great responses. It’s our premium label of yuca, so we’re trying to focus on it, along with our banana and plantain programs.”

The Rosita Brand, he pointed out, has been around since 1967. It has been a major marketing push for the company to reintroduce the quality fruits and vegetables it imports under this label.

Few if any fresh produce growers in Latin America have escaped the wrath of this season’s El Niño weather system, Exp Group included.

“Colombia has been suffering from a drought, so we’re having some quality issues there,” explained Serafino. “But in regard to Ecuador, the El Niño system has not been as prevalent. We braced for the worse, but we are still seeing good quality product. As we all know, weather can change quickly, so we continue to actively monitor this system and weather in all of our growing regions in general.”

In the meantime, Exp Group continues to grow in size and scope, which is keeping the younger generation of family members, including Anthony Serafino, very busy. His brother, Emil Jr., joined the company over three years ago and is the vice president of technology. His cousin, Paul Serafino, has been with the company for about ten years and is the vice president of sales.

“As has been reported, exporting certain other products from the Dominican Republic is now permitted,” said Serafino. “We continue to bring in sour oranges, sweet lemons, ajicito, aloe vera, dry coconuts and yautia. The avocado season from there has now ended, and we were very happy with the program results this season.”

The Exp Group’s primary goal for the remainder of 2016 is to continue to push its premium Rosita brand yuca because it is of exceptional quality, and the response has been incredible.

“In addition, we have added another label of plantains to our product line — the Hepa brand,” noted Serafino. “This is in addition to our Selvatica brand. Hepa has been receiving great feedback from customers on the quality of the brand since we added it to our line. We look forward to the future of our plantain line with both of our popular brands.”