Specialists in plums for overseas sales

Explum exports 90% of its production to distant destinations, such as Brazil and the Arab Emirates. And this year it is starting to send produce to the Chinese market.

In 2017 they are facing up to what will be their sixth campaign, but the track record of the professionals from Explum can be traced back over almost four decades. This company from Extremadura, with head offices in Valdelacalzada (Badajoz), and clearly focussed on exports, has known how to place value on the star product of the region, the plum, which makes up 80% of its total production. The company has an estimated volume of 11,000 tonnes for this campaign, including plums, nectarines and peaches.

The general manager, José Aurelio García, explains that, due to its weather conditions, Extremadura offers the “best plum in Spain and the rest of the world” (as it is not self-fertilising, it needs cross pollination, a condition that occurs without any problems in the region). And they have known how to optimise the fruit itself, taking care of each of the phases in the chain, from production to marketing. “We are always trying to improve every aspect to offer the best produce to our clients”. For this reason they are opting for new varieties, which combine important aspects such as flavour and size, with a long post-harvest life to reach the markets where they are present.

Malaysia, India, Canada, Brazil, Uruguay, the Arab Emirates… are some of the destinations where they market their stone fruit. And from this year onwards, they will also reach China, a “potential” market that values the quality of Spanish produce. García is aware that “we still have a long way to go, starting with an in-depth learning curve of Chinese consumer tastes and the challenges set forth by the transit time,” and he points out some key elements that must be used as starting points: “large size and black varieties, characteristics highly appreciated by the Asian giant.”

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