Peruvian blueberry exports tripled in 2015, topping US$94m, according to Sierra Exportadora. The agency said production is increasing in Andean areas as well as in coastal regions, with exports from the former climbing 142 per cent to US$1.1m.
Sierra Exportadora president Alfonso Velásquez said that if production continues to grow at the same rate across Peru, exports could top US$200m in 2016.
He said planted area is on course to increase from 2,500 ha to 3,200 ha by the end of the year.
In a separate report in RPP Noticias, the president of La Libertad, Luis Valdez, said at least 30,000 ha of land forming part of the Proyecto Especial Chavimochic irrigation scheme is to be developed for blueberry production.
Speaking after a meeting with local grower-exporter Rafael Quevedo Flores, Valdez said that productivity levels are projected to double from 6,000 tonnes per hectare to 12,000 tonnes per hectare in the coming years.
