Colombia emphasised its position as the world’s leading physalis producer last year, with exports reaching 1,000 tonnes.

Andrea Escobar, export manager for the Caribbean Exotics company, said the South American country is not only number one on the world market for physalis, but also unrivalled.

Although physalis, which is also known as Cape gooseberry, originates from Peru and is also grown in Canada, Escobar said Colombia produces a superior product.

Together with three other companies, under the umbrella of the export promotion organisation ProExport, Caribbean Exotics exhibited a full range of exotic Colombian fruit at this year’s Fruit Logistica, including passion fruit and baby bananas, tree tomatos, curuba, lulo, mango, prickly pear, feijoa, granadilla and guava.