Camposol may develop up to 1,000ha of blueberries in Peru after sending its first trial exports to the Netherlands, the US and China last season.
The company’s first phase of planting 200ha is complete and the next 200ha will finish next year, Camposol’s chief executive officer José Antonio Gómez told Americafruit, Asiafruit and Eurofruit.
“If everything goes well we may develop up to 1,000ha of blueberries,” he explained.
Gómez claims the production base would be very large in terms of berries and would require a workforce of 1,000 people since the fruit is very labour intensive.
“There are only a few companies who can manage that many people,” he noted, adding that Camposol is already the third-largest employer in Peru.
Gómez believes Peru’s blueberry industry will grow exponentially in the coming years, with a season lasting from late August to early October.
He sees particular potential in Asia given the fast growth of the market there, especially in Japan and China.
“The China market will open for `direct` Peruvian asparagus and blueberry exports in the next few years,” claims Gómez.
Across the industry, around 400-500ha have been planted with blueberries in Peru to date.
