Frutas
Manzano
Costa Tropical
FRUTAS MANZANO is today one of the leading companies in the produce packing and distribution business, poised to consolidate its position, with the effort and drive of its management.
The tropical valley A mountainous environment of up to 1,100 metres of altitude sitting in the Penibética range surrounds and protects of the northerly winds a valley by the sea that thus enjoys mild temperatures in winter and moderately high ones in the summertime. This so-called tropical Valley covers a large extension of land perfectly set for the production of tropical fruits -for most an unthinkable event in those latitudes- such as custard apples, avocados, mangos, and loquats. In the very heart of this tropical valley lies the famous fertile plain of Almuñécar, origin of the initial productions and whose surface provided the growing regional market with novel, tropical and exotic products for many years. The strong economic and tourist development of the later 40’s led to a great expansion in fruit trees plantations, broadly overflowing the natural limits of Almuñécar into the coastal lines of Granada and of Malaga where we find them nowadays. The growth of the Europe-bound fruit export business has been such that many small organizations, while growing along with the market, have actually transformed themselves into modern and market leading companies, solidly capitalized and equipped with the latest technologies to compete in a steadily growing business.
More than 40 years of experience Mr. Rafael Manzano started in the fruit sales business back in the 70’s out of Almuñécar. Gradually, with enormous effort and dedication, raised a company that rapidly stood out amongst the top packing and distribution organizations, consistently increasing its focus on subtropical products. Nowadays, as a result of its continued growth and new markets penetration, Frutas Rafael Manzano e Hijos S.L. owns and manages two fruit and vegetables facilities located in Almuñécar and Salobreña, where large areas are devoted to the handling and sales of fruits, vegetables, and subtropical products. The new generation, sons of Rafael Manzano, has given a renovated drive and brilliant future prospects to this ever-developing company.
Our Company The Frutas Manzano company currently owns and manages a group of modern facilities with an overall surface of over 6,000 sq. metres. This large work area, equipped with modern technical and human resources, can manage at any time large fruit and vegetable production volumes as well as its preparation and immediate expedition, with a permanent guarantee of freshness and maximum product quality.
Manipulation and packed
The constantly growing annual production focuses on the packing and distribution of more than six million kg of custard apple, 2 million kg of avocados mainly of the Hass variety, the most appreciated, and to a lesser extent of mangos and loquats. Logistics are managed by a fleet of affiliated truck transportation companies delivering our products to our customers all over Europe.
chirimoya custard-apples
The custard apple is the fruit of the custard apple tree or “Anona cherimola Mill.�, a native species of South America that was introduced in Europe, Africa and the East after the discovery of the New World. The custard apple presents a heart-shaped aspect, is 7.5 to 12.5 cm long, with a near smooth, fragile, and thin skin decorated with light hexagonal cells all around its boundaries. It has a fleshy, smooth and of sweet-tasting pulp. It contains numerous brilliant seeds, round and flattened and inedible, 1 cm long, scattered inside the pulp. It weighs approximately 150-250 grams overall, although pieces have been found nearing the kilo. Of greenish tones on the outside (although it darkens upon ripening) and slightly tuberculated skin, whitish hues for the pulp and dark for the seeds. September through April production.
The custard apple tree shines in all its magnificent splendour in subtropical climates, characterized by warm temperatures (albeit generally below the 30o’s) and a reduced temperature range. Low temperatures are the absolute limiting factor in the production of this fruit, resulting all but impossible to obtain a quality produce in frost prone regions. Likewise, dry winds and high temperatures during blossom may damage the flowers and prevent the formation of the fruit.
Harvesting (hand picked) starts when the green colour of the fruit lightens although it keeps a firm consistency (this firmness will prevent spoilage over transportation). Although water is the main component of custard apples, these boast a high-calorie count (due to the high sugar index in water) and significant amounts of carbohydrates such as glucose or fructose. Other important nutrients in its composition are fibre, C vitamins, and minerals as the potassium.
chirimoyo custard-apples
avocado
The avocado is the fruit of the avocado tree or “Persea american�, a vigorous tree of South American origin that is mainly grown in Mexico and Brazil nowadays, but also in temperate climate areas all over the world. It belongs to the Lauraceae family, ligneous plants found in warm climates. Its oval fruit (the only edible part of the tree), has a pear-like appearance, 10-13 cm long, although of thick skin that feels hard and rough when not fully ripened. The inside holds an almost oily, creamy pulp and a single round seed of large dimensions (2-4 cm long). The most commercialized pieces may be around 150-350 grams in weight, although this may range between 100 and 500 grams depending on variety. Colour clearly distinguishes the three parts of the fruit: intense green in various tones for the skin (dependant on variety and degree of ripening, may turn a dark hue), light greenish tones or pale creams for the pulp (of a butter-like colour quality) and brown for the seed.
avocado The main varieties are: Hass: Probably the most consumed variety in Spain. Of small size, intense green and rough skin with yellowish pulp. It is mainly produced in Mexico and Spain. Bacon: Early variety showing brilliant tones on its dark green and smooth skin. Produced in Spain. Strong: Thin, rough and dull skin of pale green colour although of exquisite taste. Produced in Israel, Kenya, South Africa, and Spain. Reed: the latest in the season, of limited production, rounded form and dark green, smooth skin. Avocado production has been historically connected to temperate or warm climates and its plantations are usually found at high altitudes in the 800-2,500 m.a.s.l. range (a common occurrence in Central and South America), thus avoiding certain pests specific to this tree, particularly damaging to its roots. While temperature largely determines what avocado varieties can be produced, some like the Mexican one are better equipped to withstand the cold. Annual rainfall should be in the 1.200 mm range, distributed throughout the year, avoiding prolonged droughts or excessive watering during blossom and fruition, as those weaken the trees causing the fall of foliage or fruits respectively.
mango The mango, a fruit that grows in inter-tropical areas, has a semi-acid and fleshy pulp. While the fibre content of the fruit may widely vary, the “hilacha mango� is the variety with the highest fibre content. Of Asian origin, it comes mainly from India. The most common fruit is approximately 10 centimetres long although larger varieties exist. Its skin covers a broad colour spectrum including yellow - greenish, yellow - reddish, orange, rose and at times purple, colours that intensify as the fruit ripens further.
mango he proper way to choose a loquat is to look for fruits showing well-coloured and smooth skins and that emit an intense fragrance, these being some of the most helpful fruit ripeness indicators. Little black spots on its skin and a heavy feel to it in our hands tell us the fruit is fully ripened. A wrinkled skin and an acid tasting pulp indicate early harvesting hence a poor ripening process. September through December production
Although it should be ideally consumed upon reaching its ripeness point, regions exist that favour early consumption, cooking the fruit as you would a vegetable to present it as a side dish for various dishes.
Let us describe now some of its properties. It may be used to prevent infections, regulate bowel movements, and help maintain good eyesight.
The loquat is the fruit of the loquat tree, whose scientific name is “Eriobothrya japonica�, which presents an edible pulp in a white to orange colour, very aromatic, fleshy, and with an intense although slightly acid sweetness. This fruit is originally from China but adapts everywhere providing excellent quality produce, a good example in that respect being the Japanese medlar. The tree has a pinkish slender trunk, thorny branches, white flowers, and an edible fruit. It is one of the earliest stone fruits in spring. It can be found from March through June. Original from the Southeast of China, the loquat arrived in Europe in the 18th century as an ornamental tree. In the 19th century, the consumption of its fruit started in the entire Mediterranean basin, where it perfectly adapted to the citric cultivation areas.
nĂspero medlar - loquats
The succulent taste of the loquat pulp makes this fruit pleasurable to most people that try it. Besides, its nutritional properties and how easy it is to eat make its consumption appropriate for people of all ages.
While sugar rich, the loquat is low-calorie fruit. Potassium stands out amongst its components, which also include magnesium, calcium, and iron in smaller amounts. Small amounts of B and C vitamins. Fresh or cooked, the loquat is increasingly present in the creative cuisine, making for truly surprising dishes. It may also be used to create sauces, jellies, marmalades, gelatines, and all sorts of pastries. It should be left to ripen at room temperature and once ripe it should be consumed as soon as possible.
The loquat is the fruit of the loquat tree, whose scientific name is “Eriobothrya japonica�, which presents an edible pulp in a white to orange colour, very aromatic, fleshy, and with an intense although slightly acid sweetness. This fruit is originally from China but adapts everywhere providing excellent quality produce, a good example in that respect being the Japanese medlar. The tree has a pinkish slender trunk, thorny branches, white flowers, and an edible fruit. It is one of the earliest stone fruits in spring. It can be found from March through June. Original from the Southeast of China, the loquat arrived in Europe in the 18th century as an ornamental tree. In the 19th century, the consumption of its fruit started in the entire Mediterranean basin, where it perfectly adapted to the citric cultivation areas.
National production schedule Chirimoya Variedad/ Variety
Sep.
custard-apples Oct.
Nov.
Dic.
Ene.
Feb.
Mar.
Abr.
May.
Jun.
Jul.
Ago.
Nov.
Dic.
Ene.
Feb.
Mar.
Abr.
May.
Jun.
Jul.
Ago.
Nov.
Dic.
Ene.
Feb.
Mar.
Abr.
May.
Jun.
Jul.
Ago.
Fino de Jete
Mango
mango
Variedad/ Variety
Sep.
Oct.
Tommy Atkins
Osteen Keitt
Aguacate avocado Variedad/ Variety Bacon
Fuerte Hass Pinkereton
Reed Fotografías y diseño: Jean-Louis Andreck CK FOTOLAB SL - info@ckfotolab.com
Sep.
Oct.
Almacén: Salobreña - Políg. Ind. “La Gasolinera”, 43 - 44 Tfnos. +34 958 61 25 12 - 61 25 88 Fax +34 958 61 25 97 18680 SALOBREÑA (Granada)
Almacén: Almuñécar - Barrio La Paloma, 11 Tfno. +34 958 63 10 65 Fax +34 958 63 11 16 18690 ALMUÑÉCAR (Granada)
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