Peruvian grower-shipper Beta is set to significantly increase its asparagus and grape production in the north of the country and has announced plans to expand its export portfolio with products such as Hass avocados over the coming year.
New production of Red Globe, Superior and Flame Seedless grapes in the north will enable the company to harvest its first volumes in November, a month before the season gets under way in southern regions.
According to managing director Carlos Pastorino, the company’s Red Globe production will top 2m cartons (8.2kg) next year, up from the present 1.6m cartons.
“We expect to harvest our first significant volumes towards the end of 2009,” he said.
As well as grapes, Beta has extended its asparagus acreage by 600 ha in Chiclayo and Piura in the north in order to boost its export volumes during August and September when production in the south lower. The company has also added an extra 100 ha of new production in the south. In total, Mr Pastorino said asparagus production is set to increase by 20 per cent this year. About 60 per cent of this is destined for the US and the remainder will be shipped to Europe.
Meanwhile, the company has added new Minneola acreage in the southern region of Pisco and plans to produce its first commercial volumes of Hass avocados next year. In all, it has expanded its planted area by 1,300 ha this year.
