Following six years of negotiations, South Korea has allowed the import of grapes from Peru, according to Peruvian quarantine agency the National Service of Agrarian Health (SENASA).
The new protocol requires shipments undergo in-transit cold treatment to address Korea’s concerns over fruit fly, which is present in Peru. An inspector from Korea will also be required to validate all shipments before they leave Peru.
Meanwhile, the Peruvian grape industry is also working with SENASA in a bid to open up the Japanese and Australian markets. Efforts to gain access to Australia are in the early stages, and could take a number of years to bear fruit. The Australian Table Grape Association has responded positively to the news, noting that it would not look to oppose imports if they were counterseasonal to its own production.
The opening of the Korean market will bolster the Peruvian industry that has been enjoying significant growth in export sendings of late. The 2010/11 season has seen global shipments increase by 40 per cent to 11.3m (8.2kg) cartons, compared to 8.06m cartons in 2009/10.
Over the same period exports of table grapes to Asia have also increased from 2.17m cartons to 3.24m cartons.
Demand for seedless grapes has been growing in Korea, with Chile in particular seeing an increase in sendings in recent years.
Peru’s exports to Asia remain heavily focused on Red Globe to date.
