New papaya varieties entering the market

Publication date: March 30, 2023

Air eating quality, with boat prices For more than 30 years, HLB Tropical Food GmbH has been marketing papayas, introducing them to customers in the US and Europe. “Before HLB, papayas in Europe mainly came in by boat, green, and without much taste,” says Lorenz Hartmann de Barros with HLB Tropical. “Then, in the 1990s, […]

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“Trust is our main currency”

Publication date: March 30, 2023

Lorenz Hartmann de Barros on bringing exotic fruits to Europe Well known for its papaya product offering and later on also exotic fruits, Florida-based HLB Specialties witnessed tremendous growth in the past decade. “Exotic fruits are very much in demand and it is great to see the positive impact they make on health,” says Lorenz […]

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Increasingly adventurous consumers demand larger selection of tropical items

Publication date: November 5, 2021

In the past 18 months, demand for tropical produce items like mangosteen, rambutan, and guava has shown considerable growth. “Retailers have become more adventurous,” says Melissa Hartmann de Barros with HLB Specialties. “Retailers are responding to the trend of consumers cooking at home more and trying to experience excitement. As a result, we have seen […]

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HLB Group remains a leader in tropical and exotic fruits

Publication date: October 28, 2021

For more than 30 years, HLB Group has been bringing its own love of nutritious, delicious tropical fruits to health-conscious people all across the United States, Canada and Europe. “We’re passionate about tropical fruits and committed to bringing delicious and nutritious foods to consumers in North America and Europe,” said Melissa Hartmann de Barros, director […]

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Melissa Hartmann de Barros on HLB’s 30th anniversary and the company’s expansion

Publication date: January 24, 2020

2019 marks the 30th anniversary of HLB, a family-owned company who started off importing fish into Germany. Since its founding, the company has grown to two independent branches – HLB Tropical Food in Germany, and HLB Specialties in Florida – and helped open up and develop numerous markets for exotic fruits. The company began their […]

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Melissa Hartmann de Barros of HLB: “We made the papaya a staple item in European stores”

Publication date: January 8, 2020

Though still seen as an exotic fruit by many, papayas can be found at almost any major retailer in Europe and North America. HLB Tropical Food, which was formed in Germany by Homero Levy de Barros, was a major player in the development of the papaya market in Europe. When Levy de Barros moved to […]

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Lorenz Hartmann de Barros joins HLB Tropical Food

Publication date: December 9, 2019

The German tropical fruit importer and distributor HLB Tropical Food GmbH is announcing some major personnel changes in its Kelsterbach headquarters. A few months ago, Mr. Lorenz Hartmann de Barros has joined the company as co-managing director. He brings almost 20 years of experience in the family business, and a lifelong enthusiasm for exotic fruits […]

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Importers see demand grow for organic tropicals

Publication date: November 2, 2017

Organics accounted for more than 5% of total food sales in the U.S. last year, surpassing $40 billion in sales, according to the Organic Trade Association. That rising demand includes tropical items, importers said, despite the challenges of growing an organic product in a hot, wet environment. “A lot of it is grown organically, but […]

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That hairy red fruit came from …

Publication date: November 22, 2016

The Place: Exotic lychee-like fruit rambutan, sheathed in a hairy red shell, is available at Wal-Mart, Whole Foods and Fresh Market imported from Guatemala and Honduras by HLB Specialties. The History: HLB was founded by the Barros family, who emigrated from Brazil to Germany in 1989 to start a fruit-importing company bringing papayas to Europe. […]

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