Ecuador has carried out its first shipment of tamarillos to the US since being granted access to the market last year.
The 600kg consignment was harvested in the central province of Cotopaxi and sent by air on 9 January.
Tamarillos, commonly known as tree tomatoes, are one of several exotic fruits in which Ecuador is looking to increase production in order to feed growing demand in international markets.
Pitahayas, passion fruit and naranjilla –or lulo –are all earmarked for export growth in the coming years.
In 2018, Ecuador exported around 20 tonnes of tamarillo to Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, the UAE, Italy, Switzerland and Germany.
