The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) has earmarked US $957,294 to implement the development of smooth cayenne variety pineapples into a niche market in the European unio.

The funding will go into addressing supply chain challenges and to promote the export of air-freighted smooth cayenne pineapples to the European unio, with the aim of realising some US$13,500,000 in estimated projected earnings over a period of four to five years.

It is expected to result in the injection of over 15,000,000 suckers of smooth cayenne pineapple varieties into the system, CEO of the GEPA Ms. Gifty Kekeli Klenam said at the 77th National Exporters’ Forum in Accra, held under the theme ‘Supporting the Non-Traditional Export Sector for Economic Transformation’.

Zimbabwe
Like Ghana, Zimbabwe is looking to boost pineapple exports as well. ZimTrade has urged local pineapple growers to exploit the huge pineapple market in the Netherlands as it accounts for almost half of the world’s pineapple consumption. 

It said the European unio (EU) was the largest and fastest growing market for fresh pineapples accounting for 46 percent of the world’s total consumption.

According to TradeMap, the total consumption of pineapples by the EU in 2016 stood at 1.3 million tonnes, which presents great potential for pineapple suppliers. In 2016, the Netherlands was the leading consumer with a 21 percent market share. This market has since grown by 12 percent in the last five years, from US$210 million in 2012 to US$235 million in 2016 and has developed rapidly, with supermarkets being the main outlet.