Japan has opened the door to Peruvian avocados for the 2013 season under a new treatment-free entry protocol, reports Peruvian news agency Andina.
Peru’s economic advisor in Tokyo, Luis Fernando Helguero, said Japanese authorities had accepted research into treatment-free entry by Peru’s National Agricultural Health Service (Senasa), and would allow in fruit that had been certified by the body.
Next in the Japanese pipeline for Peru are citrus and grapes, but Helguero cautioned the process could take some time.
“We are speeding it up, but the certification for the entry of mangoes lasted five years, despite the same mechanisms are used for Mexico’s mangoes,” he told Andina.
Establishing a beachhead in the Japanese avocado market is not likely to be an easy task for Peruvian suppliers, however.
Japanese avocado consumption has been increasing over the past decade, rising to nearly 45,000 tonnes in 2010 before dropping back slightly in 2011.
Peru’s entry into the market will have to compete with an entrenched Mexican avocado deal. Mexico has been by far the largest avocado supplier to Japan in recent years and continues to grow.
The supplier largely owes its position in the market to its ability to land fruit at a consistently lower price than competitors Chile, New Zealand and California.
But Peru may be able to develop a market window around the third quarter of the year, according to Jim Donovan, vice president of international operations for Mission Produce, which globally markets avocados from California, Mexico, Chile, New Zealand and Peru.
“Peruvian avocados should be an excellent fit for the Japanese market most years,” Donovan told Asiafruit.
“Peru’s season typically runs between June and September when Mexico’s production is at its lowest point and there is strong demand for California avocados in North America, so there should be a natural window for Peruvian fruit in Japan.
“2013 could be an exception, however, as California looks to have a very large crop in the works. Otherwise it ought to be a win-win situation for all concerned.”
