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Ayco doubles volume with Guatemalan melons
Guatemala
Wednesday 24 September 2008
The August deal should boost the Pompano Beach, Fla.-based company’s volumes from 1.7 million boxes in 2007-08 to about 4 million this season, said Ken Kodish, key account manager. Pressure from retailers to provide year-round coverage is one of the reasons Ayco decided to expand its Central American program, Kodish said. The company plans to ship from Guatemala and Honduras from about mid-November to the beginning of May, when its Florida, Georgia and other East Coast deals take over.
“We’re emerging as a year-round melon producer on the East Coast,” Kodish said.
Two years ago, Ayco was relying on other growers almost exclusively for its Central American melons, Kodish said. Now the company grows almost all of its own.
That is in line, he said, with an industrywide trend in Central America, as more U.S. importers seek to gain control over supplies.
Of the company’s expected 4 million boxes to be imported from Central America this season, about 1.5 million to 1.6 million will likely be cantaloupes, 1 million to 1.2 million honeydews and the balance standard and personal-size watermelons, Kodish said.
Ayco will market its Central American cantaloupes, honeydews and standard watermelons this season under the Ayco banner and its personal watermelons under its Mini Me brand.
“We’re emerging as a year-round melon producer on the East Coast,” Kodish said.
Two years ago, Ayco was relying on other growers almost exclusively for its Central American melons, Kodish said. Now the company grows almost all of its own.
That is in line, he said, with an industrywide trend in Central America, as more U.S. importers seek to gain control over supplies.
Of the company’s expected 4 million boxes to be imported from Central America this season, about 1.5 million to 1.6 million will likely be cantaloupes, 1 million to 1.2 million honeydews and the balance standard and personal-size watermelons, Kodish said.
Ayco will market its Central American cantaloupes, honeydews and standard watermelons this season under the Ayco banner and its personal watermelons under its Mini Me brand.
Source: www.thepacker.com
