A group of dragon fruit producers from the town of Algeciras in the department of Huila in the south west of Colombia are preparing to make their first shipments to Japan and South Korea.
The announcement was made by the producer association Assopitaya after a recent visit by plant health authorities from the two Asian nations to ensure that the production and export process met with the phytosanitary requirements set out under their import protocols.
The process was managed by trade promotion agency ProColombia, who introduced the producers to buyers in Japan and South Korea and oversaw the application of the vapour heat treatment protocol.
“Inspectors from South Korea and Japan visited the facilities that will oversee the treatment, which is a prerequisite for shipping to these countries,” said María Claudia Lacouture, president of ProColombia.
She added that the association was in the process of introducing several more producers with buyers interested in importing this product from Colombia.
Dragon fruit is the latest fresh fruit from Colombia to be granted access to the South Korean market, joining pineapples, coconut and green bananas.
ProColombia has singled out both South Korean and Japan as being markets with strong potential for Colombian exporters due to the growing awareness among consumers of the health benefits associated with fresh fruit.
