Pacific Produce touts retailer expertise
Pacific Produce touts retailer expertise
Building programs and partnerships with U.S. retailers for Peruvian commodities is the area in which Pacific Produce excels, and that will be its emphasis at the upcoming Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Innovations show.
Isabel Tavera, vice president of the Miami-based company, noted that Peru’s production forms its base in a handful of items including avocados, blueberries, grapes and asparagus. It also sources items from other locations in an effort to extend its year-round coverage.
Founded 23 years ago, Pacific Produce began as the marketing and distribution arm of Agrokasa, a world-class Peruvian grower. Initially, the company focused on importing Peruvian asparagus, grapes, blueberries and avocados, and now as part of Grupo Hame, the group is expanding its portfolio and origins.
Tavera added that the SEPC show, which will be held Sept. 10-13, comes at a time when the company is moving toward increased production in a number of its core commodities, specifically blueberries, grapes and asparagus. But top of mind at the show will be the final month of its Peruvian avocado imports to the United States.
That commodity clearly represents the expertise Pacific Produce offers its retail partners. Working with retailers on a program basis and offering consistent and attractive pricing on Peru’s signature large and extra large avocados, Tavera said aggressive retailers can grow their category sales exponentially. “The club stores do a fantastic job passing those savings onto their customers,” she said, adding that Pacific Produce will end up selling about 25 percent more avocados into the U.S. market this year. “Programs really have been the key.”
Those Peruvian avocados also have a strong market in Europe beginning in the spring and extending into fall. In the United States, Tavera said the sweet marketing spot this year began in late May and will extend into October.
Currently, Pacific Produce is working through to supplement the avocados from Peru with production of its farms in Colombia and Guatemala from October through March. The company plans to close the supply gaps and be a year-round avocado importer.
Blueberry season has begun in Peru but the volume from Pacific Produce heading to the United States had not started flowing yet in mid-August because of local U.S. production. Tavera said the company continues to increase its blueberry supplies by adding different areas of production in northern and southern Peru. Currently, it produces blueberries from late June to March, shipping them to the United States during about a seven-month window beginning in September. “We are anticipating a very strong Peruvian blueberry season with 20-25 percent more volume,” she said, reminding retailers that Peru will be a great option for promotion during Thanksgiving.
By then Peruvian grapes will be in the U.S. marketplace as that import window runs from late October to late March. “We will be featuring our Jumbo Premium Crunch brand,” she said, with the label name also serving as a good descriptor of the grapes inside.
Also soon to be moving into good production are asparagus from Peru. Though Peruvian asparagus is imported into the United States year-round, the fall months are when it is at its peak of supply with its production leading the U.S. marketplace in volume. Tavera said it is no secret that Peru’s production has been in decline for several years as growers switched to other crops with stronger marketing profiles. But she said Peruvian asparagus appears to be making a comeback as marketing opportunities appear to be on the upswing.
Overall, Tavera’s message to the U.S. produce buying community is that partnering with Peru is a good bet. “My message is… trust Peru,” she said. “Blueberries, grapes, avocados — we have the volume to support programs. We love to build partnerships with retailers and that is what we are very good at.”
