Jorge López and his family took a leap of faith five years ago, dedicating themselves to a specialty little known in Costa Rica, a fruit called pitahaya (Dragon Fruit). They bet on it, growing the “fruit of the future” on a hectare of land in Guanacaste.
They began to process and sell it three years later. Since many people are unfamiliar with the fruit, they decided to sell it processed instead of raw. It can last fresh for 22 days refrigerated but up to two years if processed.
They put it in everything from gourmet jams and sauces, to juices, and even two specialty beers (one light and one strong.) They’ve mixed it with whiskey, champagne, and hot chili. Next up, they are going to make both candies and a Super Shot drink from it.
This year, they’ve gone international, presenting their products in Las Vegas and negotiating with buyers in Canada, the Dominican Republic, and Turkey. In May, they will participate in the Macfrut fair in Italy.
