Uruguay’s emerging pomegranate industry is looking forward to its first export season in March/April 2014, following success on the local market since 2011, Americafruit has learned.
According to Aníbal Paz Marty of GranaSur, which claims to be the first company to develop commercial plantations in 2009, Uruguay has 15ha of commercial production owned by a group of five growers.
“Our pomegranates are different to other South American suppliers because we are growing unique varieties with very particular colour, sweetness and flavour characteristics,” Paz Marty told Americafruit.
Given the uniqueness of the fruit, Uruguay plans to market its pomegranate offer as “boutique”.
Pomegranates are currently grown in three regions of Uruguay: Montevideo, Canelones and Maldonado.
The principal variety under production is Wonderful although Paz Marty explained that there are new orchards planted with other varieties from different origins.
GranaSur itself grows more than 60 varieties of pomegranates. During 2013/14, the group of small producers plans to expand its planted area by 5ha and explore opportunities to export some of its volume.
In the future, Paz Marty sees potential for Uruguay to supply sweeter pomegranate varieties with intense red and uniform seeds and skin.
This report is published in the 2013/14 edition of Trade Latin America, the annual supplement on the Latin American fresh produce business, published by Eurofruit, Asiafruit and Americafruit.
