Tierra Suelta kicks off the Florida Thai guava season, eyeing year-round retail momentum
The Florida Thai guava season is underway at Tierra Suelta, the Homestead-based tropical fruit grower whose 250-acre, family-owned ranch supplies one of the produce category's fastest-growing specialty items into North American retail.
The campaign comes at a time when more people outside the traditional customer base are taking a chance on tropicals and buying guava. Crisp varieties like Thai guava are a good choice for shoppers looking for lower-calorie, ready-to-eat snacks.
Tierra Suelta’s distinct Thai guava
Thai guavas have a crisp, apple-like texture, and while most guavas are sold as soft, fragrant fruit that ripen at home, this variety is firm, mild, and ready to eat right from the shelf. This makes it a good fit for fresh-cut programs, grab-and-go packs, and tropical displays where softer varieties may not work as well.
"Our Thai guava is grown with a full-time agronomist overseeing every crop, which gives us a reliable harvest of crunchy, tart fruit that's fresh and flavorful," said Adrian Abreu, CEO of Tierra Suelta.
The executive explained that the fruit's peak season is late summer, “when people are looking for a crisp, refreshing snack.”
“For retailers, it's an easy-to-sell tropical fruit that appeals to many different shoppers," he added.
Industry data support the CEO’s summer hunch. A March 2026 industry report from 360 Research Reports says US guava consumption grew by 19 percent from 2019 to 2024, mainly because of higher demand from Hispanic and Asian communities.
Another industry oversight report from Business Research Insights estimates the global guava market, worth about $2.69 billion in 2024, will grow to $4.84 billion by 2033, with a 7.5 percent annual growth rate.
A vertically integrated operation
Tierra Suelta grows, packs, and ships its Thai guava from an on-site 15,000-square-foot Primus-certified warehouse on the Homestead farm. Fruit is harvested six days per week and pre-cooled to extend shelf life, reduce shrinkage, and preserve flavor.
Most fresh Thai guava in America is imported, which means longer wait times and less predictable supply.
By offering Florida-grown fruit, Tierra Suelta can deliver faster, provide a steadier supply, and meet retailer demand for locally sourced specialty items.
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