Sugar mango wants to be the next big Colombian ag-export

Sugar mango, a traditional variety from the Colombian Caribbean coast, is emerging as one of the fruits with the greatest exporting potential in the country, Nicolás Mejía, Vice President of Exports at ProColombia, told FreshFruitPortal.com.

Also known as baby mango because of its small size, this variety has gained popularity for being much sweeter than traditional cultivars, and Mejía said it is ready to join Colombian export staples, such as avocados, limes, and bananas.

Most of this crop is concentrated in the Caribbean region of the country, where local producers have developed an offering that is beginning to attract global interest. However, the potential for commercial expansion hinges on consumer perception. 

According to the ProColombia representative, the word “sugar” in the fruit’s name evokes a negative response in a context where health and wellness trends emphasizing less sugar consumption are driving purchases much more than indulgence.

Given the challenge and the fruit's commercial potential, Mejía said the industry is reworking the name to better position the product. 

“It’s a natural product; its sweetness comes from natural sugars,” he adds. “But the connotation generated by the term may be working against it."

Sugar mango bets on rebranding

Most Colombian sugar mango shipments go to the United States, particularly Florida, where the local Latin American culture has eased its entry into the market.

But ProColombia is also aiming across the pond, with Europe as a key opportunity to expand international demand for the fruit.

"We believe it is one of the fruits that we must give a significant boost to. Europe has to be one of the markets where we manage to position this product," said Mejía.

The executive commented that the sugar mango production model is mainly based on small farmers and exporting companies that consolidate supply and meet international quality requirements.

One of them is TropiFresh, a company located in the Santa Marta free trade zone. The firm began exporting between 2023 and 2024 and has experienced accelerated growth in recent years.

“They are small producers, but they have a company that consolidates orders and carries out the entire process so that the product can enter the US market. They have grown impressively and have the infrastructure to double or even triple their exports,” the ProColombia executive said.

Finally, Mejía referred to the future of the sugar mango, highlighting that this "will depend not only on existing production capacity but also on a marketing strategy that allows its attributes to be better communicated and differentiated within the international supply of tropical fruits.”

*All images are referential.

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