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By Melody Meyer
While walking the Organic Produce Summit show floor last month, I was pleasantly surprised to have a Young Thai Coconut (YTC) foisted into my hands. Scott Schultz, director national organic sales at Pacific Coast Fruit Company, was offering the globular gems pierced with bamboo straws. It was the perfect quencher for those of us doing too much talking and networking on the OPS show floor.
The coconut water market has exploded in the past few years and is estimated to account for nearly $2 billion in US sales by 2019. According to Research Corridor, $350 million of coconut water sales, only $10 million are of Young Thai coconuts.
A fast growing category demands a fast growing supply of organic Young Thai coconuts!
The Young Thai Coconut category is one of the hottest organic fresh produce trends. “This is our fastest growing category with 70 percent annual growth, followed only by our organic onion and organic potato crops,” Schultz said.
Schultz said he first tried to import YTC out of Mexico approximately 15 years ago, with tremendous demand from the vegan community. The first container, however, failed to make grade and the company took a loss on the shipment.
“I was always in the hunt for good young coconuts I could sell in this market,” Schultz said. “A friend was importing YTC’s and I asked her if her growers had organic. She introduced me to them, and they worked on getting their land certified.”
Pacific Coast Fruit worked with the organic producers to develop an organic preservative (salt water and citric acid) to extend the shelf life and produce a natural tan exterior color. “We helped them create packaging and we shipped over the first container on a wing and a prayer - it was an immediate success, “Schultz said. “Now Wholesalers around the country are buying them up!”
The harvesting of Young Thai coconuts.
Thailand produces the sweetest coconut variety in the world. There’s enough supply that Pacific Coast Fruit could triple sales, but the EU also wants as many as they can get. Schultz said, “I want to keep the supply flowing here before EU takes them all.”
Coconut palms can live to be 100-120 years old and exporting organic young coconuts is critical to the farmers in Thailand who are typically impoverished. Organic production doesn’t expose them to chemicals like Metabisulfite and Formaldehyde that are used in conventional young coconuts.
It takes eight-nine months for growers to get from flower to harvest. “They’re at their sweetest when the exterior shell yellows a bit from green, then you know the pulp is formed and pliable and the water is at its peak,” Schultz said.
Importing these ultra-sweet young coconuts from Thailand has its logistical challenges. “We order them four weeks ahead of arrival in Long Beach, CA. It takes one week to harvest and pack; and another three weeks in transit on the ship, “Schultz said.
Organic coconuts getting packed and ready for shipping.
Finding shipping containers that aren’t chemically treated for pests is also a challenge that has added higher costs. The containers arrive floor-loaded and must be palletized in the warehouse in Los Angeles. From there they have a shelf life of four to five weeks prior to arrival.
Most processed coconut water uses mature coconuts which are less sweet, with sweeteners and preservatives added, Heat pasteurization is also used which reduces some of the health benefits of fresh coconut water.
Packed organic Young Thai coconuts ready for shipping.
“Not only are they the fastest growing item for us but YTC’s are good for you to, “ Schultz said. “They’re full of electrolytes, low in acid, sodium and calories and are fat free.”
