Colima, Mexico's seventh pineapple producer

The pineapple (Ananas comosus), which many countries consider an exotic fruit, is a native to America and has a long tradition in Mexico. In recent years this fruit has acquired a significant relevance for its economic dynamics and for being an important source of employment, both in the production and marketing of fresh fruit, in the municipality of Tecoman, Colima.

According to official data from the Agricultural Food and Fisheries Information Service (SIAP), from 2010 to 2015, national production of pineapples increased by 3.7%, from 701,740 tn in 2005 to 840,486 tn. In 2015, in a total area of 18,865 ha. Overall yields stood at 44.55 tn/ ha, and Veracruz was the leading state producer with 552,375 tn. Colima, which had yields of 69.92 tn/ha, is the state with the highest yields. According to this data, Colima produced 25,577 tn of pineapple in 365,82 ha harvested.

Mexico is among the top 10 producers of pineapple in the world, as in the last decade it had an average production of 741,000 tn, a volume that satisfies the national demand and generates surpluses that allow it to position itself in the international markets of the United States, South Korea, and Spain; which concentrated more than 95% of the exports in that period.

According to preliminary official figures, in 2016 the total pineapple production had a commercial value of at least US$150M and Mexico's annual per capita consumption stood at 6.3 kg. (SAGARPA, 2017)

During March 2017, the supply center of the city of Cancun had the highest wholesale price for pineapple, in selected supply centers, with US$1.50/kg. Meanwhile, the price in the Mexico City supply center stood at US$0.79/pc.

A growing pineapple market; unsatisfied demand; export to new international markets; the adoption of new technologies to raise productivity; an increase in the quality of the pineapple of the producers and other links of the productive chain, and establishing networks of distribution for the fruit. For more information ask FGH´s International Agribusiness, Latin America's leading Agribusiness Consulting firm.