A Cyprus-based vegetable exporter growing two interesting eggplant varieties says demand is on the up in Western markets as consumers' preconceptions about how the vegetable should look begin to change.

Baby Stripe Eggplant

Alion Vegetables & Fruit Co. recently had its first year of commercial production for its Baby Stripe Eggplant, and also has an occasional program-based production of a square eggplant.

The company's managing director said the baby eggplant - which also goes by the names Stripy, Graffiti and Disco - had seen widespread interest in Asian and European markets thanks largely to its taste.

"Our customers find that it is very distinctive, and much more tasteful than other similar aubergines [eggplants] that there are on the market," Theodoros Zavos told www.freshfruitportal.com.

"And they don't just come for the variety, but the quality as well - the Cyprus conditions here are excellent for growing. The climate and the soil give extra taste and aroma for this particular variety."

The company shipped some 200 metric tons (MT) of the baby eggplant last season, with much of the volumes bound for the U.K.

He said Alion also exports the baby eggplant to other EU countries, as well as Norway, Qatar, Dubai, Switzerland and Russia.

Zavos said although eggplants were traditionally more likely to be consumed in Asian countries, interest had been growing in western markets too.

"This particular product was started for the Asian market - it was what Asian communities were using - but we managed to grow and to penetrate into the Western market as well, and we seem to be having a very good response," he said.

"We managed to introduce it into good supermarkets like Waitrose in the U.K. and it has been doing very well.

"It's all a matter of adapting a new mentality on the small sort of products rather than the bigger ones, because when people talk about aubergines they always have the big one in mind. Now we're entering with a sort of mini aubergine, which is very attractive but the main thing about it is it has a very distinct taste, and when people try it they don't go back to the other one."

He added that the main problem the company was experiencing at the moment was that it could not keep up with demand.

"Our clients are very much attracted to the shelf life, the quality standards, and obviously the taste that our fruit and vegetables have," Zavos said.

"Some people have told us they're the best they've tasted worldwide, and this is because of the climatic conditions and also the soil here."

Alion also occasionally grows a small square-shaped eggplant variety on a contractual basis, which is generally sold to U.K. supermarket chain Waitrose.

"What these products can do is give extra options for the chefs and for people working closely with innovative products in their cuisine," Zavos said.

The main season for the company's eggplant production runs from May through November, with a smaller volumes grown from December until April.

Both products will be exhibited by Alion at next week's Fruit Logistica event in Berlin.

www.freshfruitportal.com