Dominican fruit exports hit new highs, driven by U.S. and EU demand

The Dominican Republic is marking strong growth in its fruit export sector, with mango and avocado shipments rising significantly under the current administration. Deputy Minister of Agricultural Production Eulalio Ramírez shared that mango exports grew from $20 million in 2020 to $50 million in 2024, mainly to the U.S. and Europe.

Avocado exports also surged, reaching $309.4 million this year compared to $223.4 million in 2020. New fruits such as pitahaya and castaña de masa (breadnut) are being added to the export list, with fresh plantations supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Agricultural Bank through financing programs.

Currently, over 150,000 acres in the country are planted with various mango varieties, and 850,000 acres are dedicated to avocado. Citrus fruits cover an additional 716,760 acres, and coconut plantations reach 860,000 acres.

Since 2020, the Ministry has distributed nearly 3 million fruit plants to over 25,000 producers, 6,074 of whom are women, and supported planting across more than 253,000 acres. Technical assistance was provided more than 3,300 times to producers across the country.

Efforts have also been made to revive native fruits like sapote, mandarin, medlar, and guava, while expanding interest in high-demand crops such as grapes, pitahaya, and castaña de masa. This once-overlooked fruit is now valued for its nutritional content and potential uses in gluten-free and dairy-free foods.

source: dominicantoday.com

photo: everythingpuntacana.com