Fyffes is planning to increase the volume of organic bananas it sources from Peru as the country looks to increase the volume it ships overseas.
According to a report published in El Regional de Piura, representatives from the Irish tropical fruit company are currently in the north-west Peruvian reigon of Piura to visit banana plantations managed by members of Cepibo, the Piura Association of Small-scale Organic Banana Producers.
Piura currently exports around 10 containers a week at around US$12,900 per container, with Fyffes apparently sourcing the lion's share for sale in the UK and mainland Europe.
However, that export trade looks set to grow on the back of rising demand in Europe for organic bananas.
The company's UK-based quality assurance manager Roger Crudge told the newspaper: 'We have been working with Peru for three years, with Cepibo group. We're buying [bananas from them] and we want to buy more, up to eight containers a week.
Cepibo manager Wilmer Juárez said his association's members welcomed the chance to supply more organic bananas to export markets.
'Fyffes is one of our buyers, but they have come to see our quality and to see how our planting conditions and certification are, to get a clearer picture of the fruit that is reaching the European market.'
He added: 'The company wants to buy more, which opens a great opportunity for our organisation's producer members.'
