Splendid Sentinel

Sunshine in Peru

Peru has amazing mangos. Splendid’s partner in Peru is Sunshine, the country’s #1 mango exporter for quality and one of the largest agribusinesses in Latin America. This season’s early mango arrivals are very clean and show excellent blush, proving the sun has been shining on mangos in Peru. Most importantly, these mangos have to be tasted to be believed. The sugar, texture, flavor blend to make for the perfect eating mango.

For nine years Splendid has invested with Sunshine. This partnership promises to yield almost one million cartons for Splendid in 2005. The total capacity is up to 8 ocean containers daily. In addition to HAACP accreditation, Sunshine’s orchards have EUREPGAP certification, a European Market requirement. Peru’s mango season runs Dec. Mar, and peaks in Jan. and Feb.

Mangos are Sunshine’s primary product, and 1000 jobs are involved with realizing the export of 6500 metric tons annually to the USA, England, Italy, France, Spain, the Netherlands, and Hong Kong, according to President Fernando Wong. The operation includes the Wong family’s own orchards and the strength of small, medium, and large sized producers organized in productive chains. The varieties are Kent (Dec Mar), Tommy Atkins and Haden (Dec Jan). The sizing typically runs a bit larger than Ecuadors, due to the abundant availability of water in the growing regions. This years peak is 10s with an abundant supply of 8s and 9s commanding a very good price in Europe. Smaller sizes are also readily available.

Sunshine’s harvests occur in the valleys of San Lorenzo, Cieneguillo, Alto Piura, Motupe, Olmos (Lambayeque), and Casma (Ancash). Sunshine’s Bora Bora plantation is nearest its packing facility in Piura, Kent variety, and is maintained by self-sustaining farming systems which enable 25% of the crop to be certified organic. The company’s Tequila plantation in El Cholocal is the furthest from the company’s packing plant, approximately 150 acres, also Kent variety. The harvest in this zone begins one month after Piura.

Sunshine maintains two meteorological stations and employs two Agronomists to lead a team of professionals to provide constant monitoring of the company’s own cultivation as well as technical assistance to other orchards in its supply chain. Sunshine utilizes integrated and primarily biological pest control systems and is presently converting another 40 acres for certified organic production. In every respect, this is the most advanced mango operation in Peru and Splendid is proud of its Peruvian joint venture and the Sunshine label. No better quality mango exists!

For more information contact stevek@splendidproducts.com or call Larry in CA 650-342-4525 or Tom in AZ 520-398-8112.