The Peruvian fresh produce industry is gearing up for expanded access on the US market, with the doors set to open to greenhouse-grown tomatoes, figs, papayas, cherimoyas and prickly pears within the next few years.
According to a statement from the Peruvian Exporters Association (Adex), Peru’s trade attaché in Washington, Ana María Deustua, has confirmed that the pest risk analyses for the five fruits are now in progress.
The opening up of the US market to these fruits is important for the Peruvian industry, Adex said, particularly given that the country is well on its way to recovering from the economic crisis.
Although Ms Deustua was unable to give an exact timeframe as to when access would be granted (the citrus industry took 13 years and avocados eight years), she hoped the process would not take longer than two years.
Ms Deustua added that US phytosanitary authorities would be invited to visit Peru to see firsthand all of the efforts and advances that have been made in the application of good agricultural practices and improved marketing processes.
