Mamey from Tierra Suelta brings Latin favorite to tropicals department
Mamey from Tierra Suelta brings Latin favorite to tropicals department
Tropical fruit grower and importer Tierra Suelta announced a strong start to mamey sapote season with promotable volumes of high-quality product. The Latin American specialty fruit, long cherished by shoppers of Caribbean descent, is growing in popularity across the United States.
Mamey’s fuzzy brown exterior opens to reveal a vibrant salmon-colored flesh that tastes like a blend of sweet potato and pumpkin. It is a staple in smoothies and desserts but can easily be sliced open and eaten with a spoon. Boasting a sweet flavor, rich nutritional profile and creamy, custard-like texture, mamey is enjoyed by consumers of all ages.
“It’s one of the rare tropical fruits that everyone, from babies up to the older generations, eats with gusto,” said Steve Stutz, principal and sales lead at Tierra Suelta. “With tropical fruit sales increasing in mainstream markets, and the category projected to expand for the foreseeable future, mamey is the perfect item to add to a retailer’s tropicals section.”
According to a June 2024 report from DataM Intelligence, the tropical fruit market reached $4.5 billion in 2022 and, with a forecasted annual growth rate of 5.2 percent, is expected to reach $6.7 billion by 2030.
As mamey season builds toward peak harvest in June and July, Tierra Suelta continues to increase production to meet the demands of major retailers. Since its founding, the company has invested heavily in infrastructure and logistics to ensure adequate supply. It offers customized packaging, merchandising support, shopper information and private label programs to further ensure customer success at retail.
“For three generations, we have chosen to stake our reputation on the flavor and quality of our fruit, and our service,” said CEO Adrian Abreu. “Introducing exceptionally delicious mamey to a whole new demographic of customers is just one of the ways we’re honoring our heritage and our legacy.”
The Abreu family first began growing, importing, packing and shipping premium tropical fruits in Cuba before starting operations in South Florida in 1999. Since then, the company has expanded with operations in Ecuador and other locations. In addition to mamey, Tierra Suelta’s lineup includes dragon fruit, star fruit, Thai guava, tropical avocados, malangas and more.
Tierra Suelta is a woman- and minority-owned, vertically integrated farming business that grows and ships tropical fruits, roots and specialty produce from its headquarters in Miami and a state-of-the-art facility in Ecuador.
