Panama is set to export their first officially certified commercial dragon fruit (pitahaya) shipment by air to Europe later this month (June 2023). “At this moment we are about to make our first export to Europe, with the support of government institutions such as Pro-Panama and the Ministry of Agricultural Development. We estimate to export between 4 to 6 pallets per week of 110 boxes each, initially by air, then expand our volume by consolidating fruit with other producers in the country,” says Carlos Niño, CEO of the farming project Pink Lion in Panama.
The very young company started in 2020 with the vision of producing and exporting exotic fruits. “We want to take advantage of the privileged position that our country has, due to its better exposure to hours of sunshine and the fertile and noble nature of its land, giving as results, very good quality fruits with Brix higher than the standards in the region. We are programming our first export at the end of June 2023, which will also be the first in our country in the Pitahaya category.”
A few test shipments have been sent before, but this is truly the first commercial shipment that will carry all the needed export certificates says Niño. “We are oriented towards the European market with Madrid in Spain set to receive the first shipment and then France. We have also approached clients in North America. Our prices are consistent with the supply market, and are based on the high quality of our fruit.”
Pink Lion’s dragon fruit varieties are Red-White and Red-Red (Hylocereus and Undatus). Their production season is from April to November, which lasts more or less seven to eight months. “Our
farming project Pink Lion is located in the district of Chame, Province of Panama Oeste, Panama. We have approximately 14 hectares distributed in production of pitahaya, papaya, Persian lime, mango
and avocado. Among our activities there is also Agrotourism,” says Niño.
The name Pink Lion is used by the Niño family for their projects when they were growing up. “For us it symbolizes strength, determination and the will to develop new skills. It is a family-based initiative from the Niño family.”
Niño commented that Panama’s dragon fruit industry is starting to grow. “The current dragon fruit industry in Panama is in its nascent stage. A mission in Taiwan in the previous decade reactivated efforts to create a market which started taking shape around five years ago. There are around 30 producers with stated 100 hectares of current production and more entering preparation phases. Our goal is to start supplying premium select clients with views for an organic growth in the sector and introducing global procedures to better the yield per hectare maintaining Brix and overall quality.”
Are shipping rates lower for those based in Panama?
“Yes, normally we have some slightly lower prices compared to other countries in the area. At this moment the Panamanian government is negotiating offers for agricultural producers with some cargo agencies. Although we are a young company with three years of operation, we are already preparing a second stage with more than six hectares for the development of pitahaya and papaya, as the flagship products of the project. Our objective is to be able to export our product with the
highest possible quality based on top quality genetics and very demanding phytosanitary controls, in order to obtain better opportunities in selective marketing,” states Niño.
For more information:
Carlos Niño
Pink Lion
Tel: +507 240-1859
Email: administracion@proyectopinklion.com
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June 19, 2023 at 07:10PM
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