Cartama
Cartama is a Colombian vertically integrated producer and exporter of Hass avocados, controlling cultivation across 3,500+ hectares, a 240 tons/day processing plant, and exports to 18+ countries. It serves international food retailers and distributors, and operates the AvoLab innovation laboratory and Avosolutions farmer services platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersMedellín, Colombia
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Cartama does
Cartama is a Colombian vertically integrated producer and exporter of Hass avocados, founded in 2000 in Rionegro, Antioquia by a group of Antioquia entrepreneurs. The company controls the full supply chain from a 500,000-seedling nursery in Súzpia, Caldas, through cultivation across 3,502.79 hectares in 12 municipalities in Antioquia, Caldas, and Risaralda, to a 240 tons/day processing plant and cold storage facility in the Eje Cafetero region (Pereira) that supports export to 18+ countries across Europe, North America, Central America, the Middle East, and Asia (including the UK, Spain, USA, Netherlands, France, Germany, UAE, China, Japan, Belgium, and South Korea).
The company's core product is Colombian Hass avocado, and its technology stack centers on agricultural quality control and traceability rather than software. Notable technical components include AvoLab, described as a unique-in-the-world Hass avocado innovation laboratory providing soil, biological, organic, and aqueous matrix analysis; the Globalscan AI-driven optical classification system that captures 150 photos per fruit for grading; and cold storage capacity for 432 tons per day using Italian refrigeration technology. Cartama operates three sub-brands: Avofruit S.A.S. (the core producing/exporting entity), AvoLab (technical and research services), and Avosolutions (a financial and technological adaptation platform for allied farmers). The company holds a comprehensive stack of international certifications (GLOBALG.A.P., BASC, Smeta/Sedex, Rainforest Alliance, BRCGS AA+, and Sistema B/B Corp) that serve as prerequisites for selling into major international food retailers.
Cartama's go-to-market is B2B direct export to international supermarkets and food distributors, with a buyer inquiry form on its website and a UK-based contact for European orders. The company employs over 1,000 collaborators (as of 2021) and has cumulatively exported more than 5,000 containers of Hass avocados (milestone reached September 2023). It is privately held by its founding Antioquia entrepreneurs, with no disclosed institutional investor or parent company ownership, and maintains R&D partnerships with Sumitomo, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Universidad EAFIT, Universidad de los Andes, Agrosavia, and SENA.
Cartama firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cartama
- Legal name
- Cartama
- Website
- https://cartama.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Cartama is a Colombian vertically integrated producer and exporter of Hass avocados, controlling cultivation across 3,500+ hectares, a 240 tons/day processing plant, and exports to 18+ countries. It serves international food retailers and distributors, and operates the AvoLab innovation laboratory and Avosolutions farmer services platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cartama industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Fresh Hass Avocado Production and Export
- NAICS
- Fruit and Tree Nut Farming (1113), Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Merchant Wholesalers (424480)
- SIC
- Agricultural Production-Crops (100)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Tropical & Subtropical Fruit Orchards (Avocados, Mangoes, Bananas/Plantains, Pineapples, Papayas) (AFAGACAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Perishables & Fresh Produce Forwarding (Food/Seafood/Floral) (TLACAJAA), Local / Farm-to-Wholesale Produce Aggregation & Distribution (AFAIACAG)
Keywords
Where Cartama is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Medellín
- HQ country
- Colombia
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Cartama business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Hass Avocado Export: Production and export of Colombian Hass avocados to international markets. The company controls the entire supply chain from nursery cultivation, farming across 12 municipalities, processing at their plant, and direct export to global destinations.
- Agricultural Services (AvoLab): Technical assistance and laboratory services for avocado farmers including soil analysis, biological analysis, and consulting services.
- Avosolutions Platform: Financial accessibility, technological adaptation, and sustainable agriculture services for farmer allies.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Cartama product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cartama is a Colombian producer and exporter of Hass avocados controlling the full supply chain from nursery cultivation across 12 municipalities in Antioquia, Caldas, and Risaralda to a 240-ton-per-day packaging facility and direct export to 18+ countries. The company complements its core avocado export business with AvoLab, a dedicated Hass avocado innovation laboratory providing technical analysis, training, and research services, and Avosolutions, a service platform that delivers financial accessibility, technological adaptation, and sustainable agriculture support to allied farmers.
Product overview
Cartama is an agricultural company specializing in the sustainable production, processing, and export of Hass avocados from Colombia. The core product is Hass avocado production and export, supported by Avolab — a specialized innovation laboratory providing technical analysis, training, and research services to producers — and Avosolutions, a platform providing allied producers with financial access, technology adaptation tools, and sustainable agriculture services. Together these form an integrated value chain from nursery to international delivery.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- AvoLab: A unique-in-the-world Hass avocado innovation laboratory that delivers technical analysis and training to guarantee the highest quality standards in the production chain.
- Avosolutions
Products and services
- Hass Avocado Production and Export (Aguacate Hass) Sustainable production, processing, and international export of Colombian Hass avocados from nursery cultivation, farming across 12 municipalities in Antioquia, Caldas, and Risaralda, to a 240-ton-per-day packaging facility in the Eje Cafetero region, sold to international food retailers and distributors in 18+ countries.
- AvoLab - Hass Avocado Innovation Laboratory A specialized Hass avocado innovation laboratory providing technical analysis, research, and training services to guarantee the highest quality standards across the production chain, including soil analysis, biological analysis (mycorrhizal colonization, pathogen identification), organic matrices analysis, and aqueous matrices analysis, serving small, medium, and large producers.
- Avosolutions - Farmer Support Platform
Companies that use Cartama
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Cartama technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Cartama partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- SumitomocoreStrategic partnership through Avofruit for R&D projects in sustainable agriculture. Sumitomo collaborates with Cartama's research initiatives in the Colombian avocado sector.
- Universidad Nacional de ColombiacoreResearch partnership through Cartama R+D group with Colciencias-registered research groups (COL0191541 and COL0223117). Collaboration in eco-physiology, fit improvement, post-harvest quality, plant health, precision agriculture, and sustainable development.
- Universidad EAFITcoreAcademic research partner collaborating with Cartama R+D on agricultural innovation projects.
- Universidad de los AndescoreAcademic research partner collaborating with Cartama R+D on innovation projects.
- AgrosaviacoreResearch center partner for agricultural research and development collaboration.
- SENAcoreTechnical training and research collaboration partner for agricultural development.
- AvolabcoreCartama's own innovation laboratory - first Hass avocado laboratory in the world. Provides technical analysis and training services to guarantee quality standards in the production chain.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cartama competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Calavo Growers: US-listed Hass avocado packer and distributor with Mexican sourcing; competes head-to-head with Cartama for shelf space at major North American and European retailers in the fresh Hass category.
- Mission Produce: Largest global Hass avocado grower, packer, and ripener with operations across California, Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Guatemala, and South Africa. Directly comparable as a vertically integrated Hass exporter serving the same international retailer base.
- Index Fresh: US-based Hass avocado packer and distributor sourcing from multiple Latin American origins. Competes with Cartama for the same retailer contracts in North America and Europe.
- Del Rey Avocado: Family-owned US avocado packer and exporter focused on California and Mexican supply. Comparable as a Hass-focused exporter with similar retailer-driven B2B model.
- GreenFruit Avocados: US-based Hass avocado distributor sourcing from Latin American growers for the North American market. Comparable as a Colombian/Latin American-sourced exporter serving similar retail customers.
- Westfalia Fruit: Privately held multinational Hass avocado producer-exporter with operations across Africa, the Americas (including Colombia), and Europe. Closest analog in scale, vertical integration, and certification-driven positioning.
- Henry Avocado: California-based Hass avocado grower, packer, and distributor serving North American retailers. Similar vertically integrated structure and customer base overlap with Cartama's US exports.
Regional players
- Subsole: Chilean fresh fruit producer and exporter with a significant Hass avocado business. Operates in the same category but counter-seasonally from Chile, serving overlapping European and Asian retail customers.
- Grupo ProHass (Peruvian Hass Association): Peruvian Hass avocado industry association coordinating production and export standards. Relevant benchmark for production practices and market access strategies in the same category.
- Avo Hass Peru: Peruvian Hass avocado producer-exporter association representing growers. Competes with Cartama in counter-seasonal windows and for the same European/US retailer contracts from the Southern Hemisphere.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cartama social profiles
Digital presenceCartama compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Cartama financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cartama leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Cartama subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Cartama funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cartama M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cartama
What does Cartama do?
Cartama is a Colombian producer and exporter of Hass avocados controlling the full supply chain from nursery cultivation across 12 municipalities in Antioquia, Caldas, and Risaralda to a 240-ton-per-day packaging facility and direct export to 18+ countries. The company complements its core avocado export business with AvoLab, a dedicated Hass avocado innovation laboratory providing technical analysis, training, and research services, and Avosolutions, a service platform that delivers financial accessibility, technological adaptation, and sustainable agriculture support to allied farmers.
Is Cartama a public or private company?
Cartama is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Cartama founded?
Cartama was founded in 2000. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Cartama based?
Cartama is headquartered in Medellín, Colombia, in the Latin America region.
How does Cartama make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Hass Avocado Export is the primary driver. The others are agricultural Services (AvoLab) and avosolutions Platform.
Who are Cartama's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Calavo Growers, Mission Produce, Index Fresh, Del Rey Avocado, GreenFruit Avocados, Westfalia Fruit and Henry Avocado. Regional players are Subsole, Grupo ProHass (Peruvian Hass Association) and Avo Hass Peru.
Does Cartama have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cartama.
What industry is Cartama in?
Cartama's product category is Fresh Hass Avocado Production and Export. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAGACAF, Tropical & Subtropical Fruit Orchards (Avocados, Mangoes, Bananas/Plantains, Pineapples, Papayas), with a secondary code of TLACAJAA, Perishables & Fresh Produce Forwarding (Food/Seafood/Floral). Its NAICS code is 1113 and its SIC code is 100.