Exotic European fruits with great prospects

On the demand side, the revolution in tropical fruit consumption is evident: between 2014 and 2024, Spanish exports have grown by 75% in volume and 174% in value. But the trend defined by European imports has been even more spectacular: in that decade, tonnage has doubled (+107%) and the value traded has tripled (+240%). Thanks to the emergence of crops such as avocado - today with 24,221 hectares (ha) - and, to a lesser extent, mango (6,044 ha), custard apple (2,547) and loquat (1,959).

More prospects with pitaya, papaya, passion fruit, lychee, kumquat or citrus caviar.

Spain is the leading producer and the third largest supplier of tropical fruits in the EU after the Netherlands and Peru. The greatest work to achieve leadership in this second field -as a continental supplier- will have to come from the side of expanding supply. And it is at this point that the Cajamar Group Foundation and the Association of Avocado Producers (ASOPROA) have shed light on the possibilities of expansion -in Andalusia and Valencia- of a new generation of exotic fruits: pitaya, papaya, passion fruit, litchi, kumquat or citrus caviar.

Granada, Malaga and Valencia

Ana Cabrera, from the Training team of the Cajamar Land Platform, explained the 'hot spots' of production at the conference held in Paiporta (Valencia). Andalusia is the protagonist of avocado production, with Malaga at the head (65% of planted area) and Granada as the second province and Valencia as an alternative (16.5%). These two Andalusian provinces also lead the mango production and again Granada has almost all the cherimoya farms; the fourth 'ripe' tropical fruit in discord is the loquat, produced by 67% on the coast of Alicante.

Several challenges

Faced with this growing and more consolidated supply, there is a group of exotics that "are already arousing consumer interest," according to Virginia Pinillos, professor of fruit growing at the University of Almeria. These are crops with special "potential" in the more temperate zones, according to the GoExotika study developed between 2023 and 2025. According to the crops there are several challenges: varieties, post-harvest and the need to protect crops. There is a lack of varieties adapted to Mediterranean soil and climatic conditions or to climate change. This is the case of pitaya or passion fruit, but with some more prone species already detected. On the other hand, there is a need to improve post-harvest performance and/or adapt transport to address their internationalization, especially in papaya and cherimoya. Thirdly, there is a need to invest in covers, such as 'shade netting', plastic or greenhouses (for passion fruit, papaya and pitaya, not so much in the case of litchi and longan) as well as to consolidate specific marketing channels and to promote the nutritional properties of these fruits.

Valencia, great potential

Today, the Valencian Community exploits almost 4,000 ha of avocado. Every year 250 new hectares are planted, which is why the brand 'Avocados CV' was recently launched. on Manuel Almenar, head of Fruits of Anecoop reported as an example the steps taken with the cultivation of persimmon and the brand 'Bouquet Exotic': "Beyond the 120,000 t. of persimmons, we have penetrated this market and we sell 2,000 t of avocados, another 2,000 of papayas and 150 of pitayas" reports Ruiz. He also recalled the good potential of avocado consumption: "We are far from reaching the consumption ceiling: on average it adds up to 2 kg per capita in the EU when in the USA it is 5; there are also countries like Italy with great potential, with only 0.81 kg/person per year".

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