A fruit importer is a person who specializes in bringing fruit into the country. This includes exotic fruits that aren’t always available in a given country, as well as fruits grown out of season in other countries. Fruit importers work with supermarkets, produce distributors, hotels, and other businesses that require fruit. Working as a fruit importer requires no formal education; most people learn on the job while working for fruit import companies and related businesses.
Fruit importers make fruit available by forming relationships with growers around the world and compiling a catalog of items from which customers can order. Promotion of exotic fruit that residents of one country may not be familiar with is one important aspect of a fruit importer’s job. For example, the kiwifruit was once unknown but is now widely available thanks to fruit importers who introduced kiwis to their customers and encouraged them to start ordering them.
Because this work is done on a global scale, a fruit importer must be knowledgeable about the laws and bureaucratic processes of several countries. Some people prefer to contract out work like trucking and shipping to other companies, while others prefer to supervise it themselves to ensure that it is done correctly. This is especially important with delicate fruits, which can be damaged during shipping, resulting in a decrease in their value.
Fruit importers frequently locate their headquarters in port cities or near airports to be close to their warehouses. A fruit importer may specialize in a specific area of interest, such as organically produced fruit or tropical fruits. Others sell a diverse range of items, including organic and conventional produce as well as fruits from around the world. A fruit importer may be able to obtain fruit that is not normally available in the catalog through special arrangements.
Because fruit consumption trends change from season to season, this type of work is seasonal. Fruit importers must also be aware of food industry trends and make appropriate contacts with farmers in order to obtain in-demand fruit. According to the trends set by well-known chefs and restaurants, certain fruits come in and out of style. If a fruit importer is slow to respond, he or she may be left with expensive stock that goes unsold, as well as angry customers who want fruits that aren’t available.