Peruvian produce continues to make inroads into new markets. On Wednesday the ministry of foreign trade and tourism (Mincetur) announced that the Indonesian authorities had granted final approval for imports of table grapes and mandarins at the end of 2016, giving exporters access to a market of 253m people.
Under the terms of the agreement, shippers are required to present a food safety certificate upon entry.
A spokesman from Mincetur said one Indonesian importer, PT Segar Manis Mat, had already shown a strong interest in Peruvian mandarins during a visit to the country last year.
Peru is now looking to widen access to the Indonesian market for other products including avocados, blueberries, garlic, onions and asparagus, the ministry said.
Initial forecasts for the 2017 citrus crop suggest volumes will be similar to last year, when the crop weighed in at 1.1m tonnes. However, a shortage of water in some of the main growing areas could result in smaller sizes. Sergio del Castillo, managing director of producer association ProCitrus told Agraria.pe that there would be a greater availability of mandarins below 55m.
Peru exported 127,000 tonnes of citrus in 2016, the vast majority (115,000 tonnes) being mandarins. Within this category, Murcott has become the star performer, with exports climbing 145 per cent last year.
Peru’s mandarin acreage is growing at a rate of 1,000ha a year, mainly along the central coastal region and in Libertad and Ancash in the north and Nazca and Palpa in the south.
