Rising US Demand for Limes Drives Colombian Agricultural Exports

The demand for Mexican and Latin American food is rising and limes, a key ingredient in this cuisine, are benefitting from this increase in popularity. Findura Foods, with offices in New York and Colombia, produces its limes in Colombia to meet the ever-increasing demand for this citrus. Although Mexico dominates the US lime market, Colombian limes are increasing their market share steadily.

Year-round Production for Colombian Limes

Limes are grown year-round in Colombia and are of high quality. Many exporters believe they have a fresher taste than Mexican limes, the main competitors. Most limes in Colombia, around 85%, are grown in the Santander province. At Findura Foods, the limes are harvested as naturally as possible and are handpicked, to ensure that each lime is perfectly ripe before exporting. The limes are exported fresh from the field, as the company tries to minimize the time the limes are stored in cold storage.

US Drives Lime Demand

Limes are leading agricultural export growth in Colombia. Between January and August 2019, lime exports increased by 27%, higher than the average increase in agricultural exports. Limes are often used as part of luxury dishes in regions such as Europe, the Middle East, and the US. The highest demand for limes originates in the US, due to the large Hispanic population and the subsequent popularity of Mexican and Latin American food. Most limes in the US, around 95%, come from Mexico. However, Mexican lime production is significantly lower in the winter and early spring months and this gap in the growing season provides a strong opportunity for Colombian limes to enter the market during the spring season.

The demand from other regions, such as Europe and East Asia, is also growing, but at a less rapid pace than demand from North America. As a result, the target market for Findura Foods is the US, but the company hopes to see lime exports to Europe and the Caribbean increase. As of yet, the company is able to ship 4 containers of limes each month, containing around 1,400 16 kg boxes per container. Currently, the company also exports bananas, passion fruit, pineapple, and mangoes to these markets.

Corporate Responsibility on the Farms

The Santander province, where Findura Foods grows its limes, is close to the Venezuelan border. As a result of unrest in the country, many Venezuelan refugees have entered Colombia. As part of a special program in Colombia, the company works with partners who employ Venezuelan refugees, as well as single mothers from Colombia, on their farms. A core value, Findura Foods believes that providing an economic opportunity to these vulnerable groups not only benefits the people, but also the company.

One major change the company hopes to see in the Colombian lime market is an increase in the use of technology. Although the company appreciates hand-picked limes, it also believes that certain innovations, such as an increase in the use of greenhouses and organic farming, will benefit the quantity and quality harvested. The Colombian government is currently increasing the subsidies available for such innovations.