Ecuador has firmly positioned itself as the world’s leading supplier of hearts of palm, reaching a share of 75% of global demand. Annual production exceeds 65,000 tons, grown on more than 15,000 hectares of subtropical forest, mainly in Pedro Vicente Maldonado (Pichincha), Esmeraldas, La Concordia and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas. These areas offer an optimal microclimate located at 650 meters above sea level that favors the growth of the chontaduro, the plant from which the heart of palm is extracted. Approximately 500 farmers actively participate in this process, joining a value chain that supplies eight registered export companies.

Among them are Ecuadorian companies that currently account for 43% of the world’s palm heart supply. This company has invested in innovation, developing transformed products such as medallions, lasagna-type sheets, and spaghetti-type presentations, increasing the added value of the product and adapting to the demands of markets on more than five continents, including Europe, Japan, Australia, and the United States.