The Christmas season has brought an increase in the interest in exotic fruits and Asian stores in particular are paired with exotic fruit varieties to boost customer visits during at this time of the year. “Our Brazilian Samba papaya and Ecuadorian white dragon fruit are performing exceptionally good in Canada as well as California,” says Melissa Hartmann de Barros from HLB Specialties. This increase in demand is due to the availability of. The yellow dragon fruit is popular during the holiday season. The variety however has a current availability gap. “While the gap is not uncommon at this time of the year, it’s been made worse by the cold weather that occurred during November.”
This means that the fruit isn’t as plentiful being grown, and the growers have to guard their crops from thieves who enter the fields to steal Yellow dragon fruits when they’re still in their early stages. Hartmann de Barros has heard that the same thing is happening to mangos in Ecuador that is due to the extreme shortage of supply.
of the Dragon. of the Dragon
Other exotics will be in high demand from mid-to-late January to prepare for Lunar New Year, which is known as the Year of the Dragon in 2024. “With this in mind our packaging featuring dragon fruits is being redesigned, and we’re excited to introduce the brand new style beginning in January,” Hartmann de Barros revealed. In general, HLB Specialties is expecting increased demand for exotic fruits presented as gifts in the Lunar New Year. “Of the products we offer we anticipate Brazilian tiny papaya (Golden and Samba varieties) along with yellow and white dragon fruit, mangosteen along with lychee to be a hit.” Other exotics which are given as gifts that enjoy increased demand in the period of Lunar New Year include mandarins, Korean pears, mangos and even the longan.
Dragon fruit packaging is new to celebrate this Year of the Dragon.
HLB has a separate department that is located in Germany which typically sees a more substantial need for exotics and tropicals in the lead-up to Christmas as compared to United States. But, there’s been no normal this year. “As the result of severe weather conditions as well as logistical difficulties both Brazil as well as Spain have a surplus of papayas ripe that were selling at comparatively low costs throughout Europe,” Hartmann de Barros stated. In the meantime the weather conditions in northern Europe wasn’t ideal which impacted sales due to this. “Unfortunately papayas didn’t get a good seasonal holiday this year however other exotic and tropical products did very extremely well.”
For further information:
Melissa Hartmann de Barros
HLB Specialties
Tel: (+1) 954-475-8808
Email: Melissa@hlbspec.com
www.HLBinfo.com