Guatemala Produce Trade Association celebrates 10th anniversary
Guatemala Produce Trade Association celebrates 10th anniversary
The Guatemala Produce Trade Association is celebrating its 10th year anniversary. The association aligns leading U.S. importers and industry service providers toward the goal of positively impacting trade of Guatemala-grown fruits and vegetables exported to the U.S.
“October 2025, we’ll celebrate our 10th year anniversary,” said Priscilla Lleras, executive director of GPTA. “We have been able to unite the industry’s top importers of Guatemalan fruit and vegetable products to support growth and stimulate brand awareness within the industry for Guatemalan produce.”
The annual GPTA 2025 association meeting was held at the World Trade Center on May 16 in Miami. Members discussed statistics, trade and logistics, focusing on Guatemala’s agricultural trade with the United States. At the meeting, members discussed how Guatemalan produce complements U.S. production by filling in seasonal gaps and providing diverse options, enabling retailers and foodservice providers to meet the U.S. consumer’s demand for year-round availability.
"The fresh produce sector is unique," Robert Colescott, CEO of Southern Specialties and co-chairman of GPTA, said of policies that aim to strengthen the domestic industry and promote the return of manufacturing jobs to the U.S. "While tariffs on manufactured goods may encourage domestic production, this principle does not apply to agricultural trade. The United States lacks the necessary combination of arable land, climate, labor and water resources to meet the demand for certain fresh produce throughout the entire year."
U.S. Department of Agriculture/FAS statistics indicate that import quantity variances for processed fruits have increased by 34 percent, while fresh has slightly decreased by 3 percent year-over-year. Additionally, the report added that vegetable variances for the fresh category have remained flat year-over-year, while processed vegetable imports have increased by 17 percent.
During the meeting, Natalia Samayoa, trade commissioner for Guatemala (based in Miami, discussed how total exports to the U.S. of fruits and vegetables from January through December 2024 amounted to $2.8 billion. “The fruit and vegetable industry in Guatemala is responsible for creating over 840,000 jobs,” Samayoa said. “Guatemala is forward thinking by implementing strategic goals to increase trade by advancing and gaining access into the U.S. market with Guatemala’s avocados.”
Guatemala serves as a crucial trade partner for the United States due to its advantageous proximity. According to Lleras, "Guatemala possesses a competitive edge in providing U.S. retailers and foodservice establishments with specialty fruits and vegetables." In 2024, Guatemala supplied the United States with over 180 million pounds of vegetables and more than 5.8 billion pounds of fresh fruits, based on USDA/FAS statistics.
In anticipation of GPTA's 10th anniversary in October, Jay Rodriguez, CEO of Crystal Valley Foods and co-chairman of GPTA, said the association has facilitated networking among U.S. importers: “It has also served as a platform to address opportunities for maximizing trade, increasing visibility and expanding the market share of produce from Guatemala.”
