Oct 2024 Update – Growing Success & New Investment Opportunities

We’re pleased to share some exciting updates from our farm this month, covering everything from our latest agricultural progress to new investment opportunities:

1. New Seedlings Germinating in Our Greenhouse

We’re happy to report the successful germination of Diospyros lotus seeds in our greenhouse, marking the first step in growing strong rootstocks for future persimmon trees. The seedlings you see in the photos below will be transferred to larger pots soon, and we expect them to be graft-ready with Diospyros kaki in about 12 months.

This strategic move will provide us with 25,000 to 30,000 seedlings, ensuring we can replace any trees that may fail to thrive on our farm.

2. Market & Shipping Strategy for 2025: Maximizing Returns

After reviewing the 2024 harvest results, we’ve decided to refine our shipping strategy to maximize income. Here’s how we’re approaching it:

• CAT1 (Top-Grade): We plan to airfreight CAT1 persimmons from Asunción to Madrid. With a capacity of 8,000 kg per flight and six flights per week from mid-March to the end of May, we aim to ensure timely deliveries. We’re working closely with Paraguayan customs, SENAVE (Quarantine Authorities), DINAC (Airport Authorities), and our Spanish counterparts to secure all documentation and implement an HACCP system for seamless operations. Early negotiations with our client in Spain indicate promising prices.
  
• CAT2 and CAT3 (Mid and Lower Grades): With the Brazilian market now open to our persimmons, we’ve hosted our first visitors from São Paulo’s CEAGESP wholesale market, led by CEO Mr. Fernando Corraladas. This market reaches over 50 million people, making it a significant opportunity. We’re currently finalizing packaging, pricing, transport costs, and volumes, and early signs are promising for a successful deal.

This strategy ensures we’re maximizing income by tailoring shipping methods to each market.

3. Seasonal Update: Healthy Growth and Blooming Prospects

The cold temperatures in Paraguay lasted longer than expected this year, causing the trees to bud about two weeks later than usual. However, this delay resulted in an explosive flowering phase in mid-September, and as of late October, our fruits are now the size of grapes.

Our team of engineers is carefully monitoring the growth phases to determine the optimal time to deploy our protective netting, which will shield the trees from potential hail damage once the sprouting hardens. The trees look healthy and abundant, and we’re confident that this season’s production will be both bountiful and of exceptional quality.

4. New Investment Opportunities: Smaller Lots Now Available

Frutas del Paraguay has received planning approval to divide four of the larger lots, creating eight new smaller lots ranging from 0.463 to 0.6 hectares (1.144 to 1.483 acres). This means investors can now start with a smaller lot size at a reduced entry point.

If you’re interested in securing one of these lots, contact us for the detailed lot sizes and prices.