Written and Published by BMT Foods, February 22, 2023
Demand for exotic fruits has grown over the past decade, and passion fruit has seen some of the highest interest. Passion fruit is delicious, nutritious, and a versatile ingredient for many food and beverage products. With its sweet and tart flavor, vibrant colors, and numerous health benefits, passion fruit is a favorite for chefs, foodies, and health-conscious consumers.
When it comes to passion fruit, Peruvians have perfected the art of cultivation. The climate in Peru is ideal for growing passion fruit, and farmers are experienced and knowledgeable when it comes to producing high-quality fruits. The passion fruit grown in Peru is juicy and flavorful.
Passion fruits offer many health benefits. It is packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and can help boost your immune system. It’s also high in fiber and low in calories, so it’s a great snack for those looking to lose weight or maintain a healthy lifestyle.
2023 Peruvian Passion Fruit Crop Issues
Peru is the fourth-largest exporter of passion fruit in the world, with exports increasing by 125% over the past five years, per Statista. The Peruvian passion fruit crop is one of the most pivotal and impactful for the global passion fruit market.
This year, there have been some issues with the growing season due to political unrest in Peru. Many of Peru’s roads and highways were blocked late last year due to unrest in the country. January saw an even more difficult situation, but the Peruvian military unblocked major roads. While the largest harvest of the Peruvian passion fruit crop had not yet started back in January, some passion fruits were ready to harvest and lost.
There were also weather issues in Peru, delaying this year’s passion fruit crop. The crop suffered from “rameado” or bruising/branching from trees that causes deterioration. Though some branching always occurs, two major branching periods occurred this season, which hurt the passion fruit crop. In previous seasons, branching was limited, and damage was minimized.
What to Expect for the 2023 Peruvian Passion Fruit Growing Season
This year, we expect the total yield of the passion fruit crop to be higher than the 2022 season, with a higher brix due to adequate fertilization and investment. Good prices last year mean more growing area for this year and higher volumes. Though the harvest is expected to start small, volumes will pick up as each week passes.
We are also seeing delays, as the 2023 Peruvian passion fruit crop season started about 30 days later than normal and the largest passion fruit harvest did not start in January as planned. The harvest started in early February, and harvests are not yet sufficient for processing. We expect the 2023 peak season to start next month, with the first peak in March and the second and largest peak in April and May. There will be a third peak in July. Additionally, with the potential for general strikes in Peru, transportation of this year’s harvest may be delayed depending on the political situation there.
Passion fruit is the perfect ingredient for juices, sauces, dressings, and other products.
The team at BMT Foods will continue to keep you updated on further Peruvian passion fruit crop developments, as the political situation evolves. We stand ready to meet your Peruvian passion fruit product needs. Please contact us today to learn more.
