Can anyone offer advice on selling large volumes of fruit grown in DR or how to go about exporting?
- Thread starter bantell nick
- Start date
Selling Fruit grown in DR
First you plant the seed, then you wait....
Then you pick the fruit...
Actually there are a number of companies doing this already.
1) What do you want to export?
2) Do you have the contracts with the producers for the product?
3) More importantly, do you have contracts with the Importers to purchase the fruit?
4) Where are you going to sell the fruit?
5) Care to share with us just what fruits you are thinking about?
We need a bit more info before gushing our plethora of information to you...
HB
Then you pick the fruit...
Actually there are a number of companies doing this already.
1) What do you want to export?
2) Do you have the contracts with the producers for the product?
3) More importantly, do you have contracts with the Importers to purchase the fruit?
4) Where are you going to sell the fruit?
5) Care to share with us just what fruits you are thinking about?
We need a bit more info before gushing our plethora of information to you...
HB
Other than for the people who have always purchased these items we have no "official" contracts or contacts. this plantation has the following fruits, China, Limon, Mangos, Avocados, and coffee as the main products. The Coffee really does not count for much. There are also other items of lesser amounts which I can worry about at a later date. The major concern would be China, Mangos, and Avocados.
I am the owner of the plantation. This could be classified as a "new venture" for me, although I have owned the property for some time now.
I would like to sell to the highest price I could get naturally.
I am the owner of the plantation. This could be classified as a "new venture" for me, although I have owned the property for some time now.
I would like to sell to the highest price I could get naturally.
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There is a melon boat leaving Manzanillo port once or twice a week & maybe the exporters/importers of these Melons might be able to help you in your quest. Try giving Mendez a ring (the shipping agency in Puerto Plata) on 586 8464, explain your desires/needs & see what he can come up with in the way of contacts!!
Good Luck - Grahame.
Good Luck - Grahame.
I am going to be a little rough
Don't take offense.
Are these crops being attended by qualified personnel?
Are they treated with the proper agro chemicals?
Do you have packing facilities?
I would suggest that you contact the JAD--The Junta Agroempresarial Dominicana, and ask about export opportunities for your fruits. Mangos are a no-no to the US, but you might be able to sell them to a processor like BON,,,,IF they are of good quality, not just "mangos" ...
Remember that what you consider "large Quantity" might be a driop in the bucket to an exporter or importer.
Where is the farm? How big is it? How many mango trees per acre? Etc. Etc....
Hb
Don't take offense.
Are these crops being attended by qualified personnel?
Are they treated with the proper agro chemicals?
Do you have packing facilities?
I would suggest that you contact the JAD--The Junta Agroempresarial Dominicana, and ask about export opportunities for your fruits. Mangos are a no-no to the US, but you might be able to sell them to a processor like BON,,,,IF they are of good quality, not just "mangos" ...
Remember that what you consider "large Quantity" might be a driop in the bucket to an exporter or importer.
Where is the farm? How big is it? How many mango trees per acre? Etc. Etc....
Hb
Thanks. I will contact these departments and find out the requirements. I don't want to say exactly where this plantation is other than for the South West side of the island. It is Aprox 90 US Acres and has plenty of plants with room for expantion.
You are correct that these plants are currently all organic. They are furtilized with mulch processed from the cleaning of land areas of other organic material.
The one section also has Cacao on it but there are only around 10 full grown trees of this. This was going to be one of the "I will worry about it later items" but it's name seems to come up quite a bit. It grows well in the area I am located in. Is there a large market for these pod's?
I have over 100 Coco trees, 500 China, 400 Avocado, 200 Naranja, among other items.
NB
The one section also has Cacao on it but there are only around 10 full grown trees of this. This was going to be one of the "I will worry about it later items" but it's name seems to come up quite a bit. It grows well in the area I am located in. Is there a large market for these pod's?
I have over 100 Coco trees, 500 China, 400 Avocado, 200 Naranja, among other items.
NB
A plantation that small and that varied will not do for export
unless they are exceptional fruits.
No avocados to the US without certification by the USDA.
100 Coconut trees, depending on which variety might be sold in Santo Domingo.
The Cacao is not enought to even talk about. You need 1000 tareas for that to work..
By Chinas, you mean naranjas: Sweet or sour, what variety.
I get the feeling that you will be much better off marketing your stuff locally, or at most in Santo Domingo.
HB
unless they are exceptional fruits.
No avocados to the US without certification by the USDA.
100 Coconut trees, depending on which variety might be sold in Santo Domingo.
The Cacao is not enought to even talk about. You need 1000 tareas for that to work..
By Chinas, you mean naranjas: Sweet or sour, what variety.
I get the feeling that you will be much better off marketing your stuff locally, or at most in Santo Domingo.
HB
Perhaps you are correct. Do you know of any contacts in the capital are who are buyers?
Are you (HB) involved in farming??
Are you (HB) involved in farming??
Used to be
Farmers in the DR have NO friends.
Perhaps the most thankless work in the country.
If you have production of oranges or any fruit, the middlemen come to you.
Since your production si relatively small you might consider enlarging your area of one particular crop so that it is more attractive to suppliers of the main market in Santo Domingo or even Barahona...
Without more precise information, I am afraid I am unable to provide much help...
Oh yea, I used to have 2500 tas of Bananas and Plantains....
Never again!
HB
Farmers in the DR have NO friends.
Perhaps the most thankless work in the country.
If you have production of oranges or any fruit, the middlemen come to you.
Since your production si relatively small you might consider enlarging your area of one particular crop so that it is more attractive to suppliers of the main market in Santo Domingo or even Barahona...
Without more precise information, I am afraid I am unable to provide much help...
Oh yea, I used to have 2500 tas of Bananas and Plantains....
Never again!
HB
At one time there was worry about 'blights' that
Foreign mangos would bring into the States. Now I see that a Mango Cluster has been formed to export the fruit to the US. Obviously they will have USDA supervision of the preparation and packing facilities. See yesterday's papers on this item. Good luck..It sure opens a great market
HB
Foreign mangos would bring into the States. Now I see that a Mango Cluster has been formed to export the fruit to the US. Obviously they will have USDA supervision of the preparation and packing facilities. See yesterday's papers on this item. Good luck..It sure opens a great market
HB
Sell to an exporter
Shipping fresh fruits and vegetables into the USA is a risky business and best left to specialists.
When I was in the export business in the States, I tried importing raw agricultural commodities a couple of times but decided it was too much trouble and risk. And (I'm guessing on this point) unlike you, my company had the advantage of a track record and established relationships with customs brokers, steamship lines and cargo insurers.
In addition to normal commercial concerns - like finding buyers, arranging transportation and collecting payment - you'll have to worry about phytosanitary certificates, USDA inspection (for insects and larvae) on arrival and the possibility of other government inspections (e.g. for pesticide residue or the presence of other harmful substances). As a newbie, there's always a chance your shipment will receive extra scrutiny and be delayed in the port or even rejected. Needless to say this can become expensive - and the fruit isn't getting any fresher while it sits on the pier.
You say you want to get the highest price - and a middleman absolutely will pay you less than an end user - but weigh that against the lesser risk of selling locally to an exporter and letting him worry about the rest. You can always start with an exporter and go direct later on, after you know your products are accepted in the marketplace.
Just my opinion/advice - and worth every penny you paid for it.
Regardless of which way you go, you might be interested in the USDA's list of fruits and vegetables that can be imported. It even includes a specific list for the D.R.
Good luck!
Shipping fresh fruits and vegetables into the USA is a risky business and best left to specialists.
When I was in the export business in the States, I tried importing raw agricultural commodities a couple of times but decided it was too much trouble and risk. And (I'm guessing on this point) unlike you, my company had the advantage of a track record and established relationships with customs brokers, steamship lines and cargo insurers.
In addition to normal commercial concerns - like finding buyers, arranging transportation and collecting payment - you'll have to worry about phytosanitary certificates, USDA inspection (for insects and larvae) on arrival and the possibility of other government inspections (e.g. for pesticide residue or the presence of other harmful substances). As a newbie, there's always a chance your shipment will receive extra scrutiny and be delayed in the port or even rejected. Needless to say this can become expensive - and the fruit isn't getting any fresher while it sits on the pier.
You say you want to get the highest price - and a middleman absolutely will pay you less than an end user - but weigh that against the lesser risk of selling locally to an exporter and letting him worry about the rest. You can always start with an exporter and go direct later on, after you know your products are accepted in the marketplace.
Just my opinion/advice - and worth every penny you paid for it.
Regardless of which way you go, you might be interested in the USDA's list of fruits and vegetables that can be imported. It even includes a specific list for the D.R.
Good luck!
Escott said:
hehehe! Careful, even orgasmic nuts fall off the tree at a certain age! (Don't send this to Anna's forum yet, I'll get my mind under control in a second...)
We work with a large fruit exporter who deals mostly with organic fruit. They distribute mangos to Europe and possibly can deal with more mangos. So, if the mango's are organic, I can give you a contact name.
I'm in full agreement with what Ben says. Rather than doing fresh produce exporting yourself, deal with established exporters at least initially.
Btw, Bushbaby, the melon farm changed crops to organic bananas in the past few months. All the previous melon fields now have lovely young banana plants, getting ready to grow bunches of succulent organic bananas.
Hillbilly said:
Sorry, I should have mentioned you'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open this file. It's available free at the Acrobat web site.
hello chris can you give me that contact name because my family have a very large piece of land and we're wondering what to do with it, thanksChris said: