At the beginning of the new medlar season, at the end of March and beginning of April, demand for Spanish medlars is traditionally lively. Towards summer – that is, around June/July – demand drops noticeably, which is due to the wide variety of other fruit products," reports Hacer Temiz, importer and managing director of Asia GmbH, based in Krefeld.
Spanish medlars
Another product highlight in the fruit sector is cherimoya, which is often also advertised in Germany as the custard apple. "We don't work with overseas goods from Brazil, but only with Spanish cherimoyas, which are usually available from September to July. I am convinced that this product has now outgrown the exotic segment. Nevertheless, it is a delicate fruit with a relatively short shelf life. This, in turn, means that the customer needs a certain turnover rate or flow rate to prevent too much spoilage and to ensure that the product is profitable," outlines Temiz.
Cherimoyas
Cherimoyas are also sold in local markets in Spain. "At the local market, mainly larger calibers are sold, while in Germany, on the other hand, the smaller and cheaper goods are preferred. The larger the fruit, the more flesh and fewer seeds," says the experienced businesswoman. Immediately after the start of the harvest in September/October, the quantities available are typically much larger. "The second harvest wave from February onwards, on the other hand, is considered to be the low season, which has a corresponding effect on the availability of quantities and the price situation. In the second half of the season, there may be bottlenecks, although enough goods are currently being exported to meet demand."
Year-round marketing of okra and broad beans
Okra is an integral part of the range and is now available from Ghana all year round. Temiz: "We imported okra for the first time in 2020, at that time still from India and Honduras. However, it turned out that the Honduran product did not quite meet the needs of the German market because it was too large. In contrast, the slightly finer product from Ghana was better received by our customers. Ghana has also established itself as a reliable year-round producer. In addition, we also offer okra of Jordanian origin from the end of April through the summer months. In general, we have noticed that the item continues to be very popular."
Okra from Ghana
In addition to okra, Asia GmbH is also dedicated to the year-round import and distribution of green beans, which are offered exclusively under the proven own brand Cleopattra. "Until a few years ago, we mainly purchased the Estefania variety, but then switched to the Faiza variety, which is comparatively darker rather than lighter green. We source our beans from Morocco almost all year round: there is only a production gap of about two months from the end of July, during which time we offer Spanish goods to bridge the gap. For about two weeks now, sales and prices have been trending downwards, but I would describe this as typical for the season," says Temiz.
Caption: Spanish medlars and cherimoya are delivered by land transport. Air freight, such as okra from Ghana or Jordan, is driven from the respective airport in Maastricht, Liège, or Paris to Venlo.
Spanish medlars and cherimoya are delivered by land. Air freight, such as okra from Ghana or Jordan, is transported to Venlo from the respective airports in Maastricht, Liège, or Paris.
30 years in the import and distribution of exotic fruits
Asia GmbH was founded in 1995 and thus celebrated its 30th anniversary on April 1 of this year. Over the past three decades, the company has established itself as a reliable partner of German wholesale markets for the import and distribution of selected exotics. In addition to the company headquarters in Krefeld, the specialized company has a distribution center at Fresh Park Venlo. Here, the freshly arrived goods are mostly handled, commissioned, and delivered to the respective customer in the form of mixed pallets on the same day. Thanks to its proven business model, the company is well-prepared for the future. "I would like to venture into the online business at some point. But the time is not yet ripe for such a step," concludes Temiz.
This article was previously published in Primeur May 2025. Click here for the link to the entire edition
For more information:
Hacer Temiz
Asia GmbH
Oder Straße 1
47829 Krefeld
Tel: +49 (0) 2151 36 32 60
Web: http://asiagmbh.com
Email: [email protected]