Chile will be the next market to open up for Peruvian blueberries. The two countries announced this week that they have agreed a working plan paving the way for imports following the conclusion of technical talks between their respective plant health authorities.
According to Peru’s Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, major exporters such as Talsa, Camposol, Danper and Arato have had considerable success in bringing down the population of fruit flies and will soon be able to eradicate them.
Peru already exports blueberries to North America, Europe, China, Brazil and several other markets.
Chile is the biggest blueberry exporter in the world, shipping more than 100,000 tonnes during the 2016/17 season. However, Peru is poised to seize the top spot in the next five years.
“In 2012 there were just 11ha of blueberry production in Peru. By the end of this year that will have risen to 6,000ha, giving an export volume of more than 40,000 tonnes,” said Federico Beltrán of Terra Business, a consultancy representing Fall Creek Farm & Nursery in Peru.
“By the close of 2021 we will have 11,000ha under production yielding an export volume in excess of 120,000 tonnes, making Peru the leading exporter in the Southern Hemisphere.”
