Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Q.R. — Pitahaya farmers are anticipating a fruitful harvest this year with around 180 tons. The fruit farmers from Francisco I. Madero in the municipality of Felipe Carrillo Puerto will begin to harvest the hylocereus cactus in May.
Ejidal commissioner Don Tirso Tuyub Hernández says around 150 producers will work approximately 250 hectares of land in May when the fruit is ready. He says that the market price varies during the season.
“Pitahaya is sold by the box or by the kilo and its price varies throughout the harvest season. At the beginning of the season the price ranges between 300 and 400 pesos per box, but for the months of September and August, the value drops drastically to around 100 pesos per box,” he explained.
He said it is important to finding direct international buyers to maximize profits from the sale of the dragon fruit. Not only would local producers benefit, but it would also strengthen the community economy as a whole.
But a majority of their produce is sold to intermediaries which cuts into their profits. For this reason, they are exploring options to establish direct connections with buyers.
“This pitahaya harvest in Francisco I. Madero not only highlights the abundance of production, but also the economic challenges faced by local producers and their efforts to find innovative solutions and markets to maximize their profits,” he said.
Last year, the Secretariat of Economic Development (SEDE) supported the direct sale of 60 tons of pitahaya by Tihosuco producers. The fruit was distributed around Quintana Roo, Yucatán and Campeche.