Selling Fruit grown in DR

[bantell nick]

Can anyone offer advice on selling large volumes of fruit grown in DR or how to go about exporting?

[Hillbilly]

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

[bantell nick]

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.

[BushBaby]

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.

[Hillbilly]

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

[bantell nick]

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.

[Chirimoya]

Originally posted by Hillbilly
Are they treated with the proper agro chemicals?

Or maybe you want to enter the organic market - a current growth area for the DR, the world's leading exporter of organic cacao and bananas?

Chiri

[bantell nick]

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

[Hillbilly]

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

[bantell nick]

Perhaps you are correct. Do you know of any contacts in the capital are who are buyers?
Are you (HB) involved in farming??