Guatemala, Florida firms partner for Mexican berry deal
Guatemala, Florida firms partner for Mexican berry deal
ATLANTA -- Fresh Harvest Mexico is a new joint venture between Guatemala's Planesa S.A. and Fresh Harvest International in Pompano Beach, FL.
Planesa founder and owner Roberto Castaneda met with The Produce News, here, amid the PMA convention to discuss his 50-50 partnership in Mexico with his friend George Ellis, owner of Fresh Harvest. They will be growing blackberries, raspberries and blueberries.
Mr. Castaneda called Mr. Ellis "one of the best producers of blueberries in Florida."
Mr. Castaneda, whose office is in Guatemala City, said that truck transportation from Mexican fields to McAllen, TX, is only 50 cents a box. He said this "really cheap" transportation, 15 hours from the U.S. border, is a blow to Argentine and Chilean competition, which is 14 days by ship from the United States. The alternative is lofty air transportation rates and a lack of cargo airplanes, "which is a tremendous problem" for those South American shippers. Of blackberries, blueberries and raspberries, blueberries are the only fruit suited for sea transportation from South America.
Meanwhile, Planesa will be exporting 450,000 flats of blackberries from Guatemala this year. Also in Guatemala, Planesa will be re-entering the raspberry business with the Autumn Britten variety.
Mr. Castaneda bought the rights to the Kiowa blackberry variety, which was developed at the University of Arkansas. The Kiowa fruit is from a thornless vine, "has very high yields and a long shelf life," he said. The fruit is also solid black. Earlier varieties had many reddish nodules. The Kiowa is being widely planted in Guatemala.
By growing blackberries under cover, Planesa will be shipping 12 months a year from Guatemala.
Planesa founder and owner Roberto Castaneda met with The Produce News, here, amid the PMA convention to discuss his 50-50 partnership in Mexico with his friend George Ellis, owner of Fresh Harvest. They will be growing blackberries, raspberries and blueberries.
Mr. Castaneda called Mr. Ellis "one of the best producers of blueberries in Florida."
Mr. Castaneda, whose office is in Guatemala City, said that truck transportation from Mexican fields to McAllen, TX, is only 50 cents a box. He said this "really cheap" transportation, 15 hours from the U.S. border, is a blow to Argentine and Chilean competition, which is 14 days by ship from the United States. The alternative is lofty air transportation rates and a lack of cargo airplanes, "which is a tremendous problem" for those South American shippers. Of blackberries, blueberries and raspberries, blueberries are the only fruit suited for sea transportation from South America.
Meanwhile, Planesa will be exporting 450,000 flats of blackberries from Guatemala this year. Also in Guatemala, Planesa will be re-entering the raspberry business with the Autumn Britten variety.
Mr. Castaneda bought the rights to the Kiowa blackberry variety, which was developed at the University of Arkansas. The Kiowa fruit is from a thornless vine, "has very high yields and a long shelf life," he said. The fruit is also solid black. Earlier varieties had many reddish nodules. The Kiowa is being widely planted in Guatemala.
By growing blackberries under cover, Planesa will be shipping 12 months a year from Guatemala.