"Sure, of course I would stay ... we lack the jungle"

"Sure, of course I would stay ... we are missing the jungle"

26/07/2016

Much has been written about the great development of Peru in all its areas. The blue numbers accompany it in almost all its objectives. It is the country that grows the most in the region, without a doubt.

Specifically in the case of the arandanera industry, since its beginnings in 2008 this growth has been explosive. The approximately 200 original hectares, gradually rose to 500 in four years, but from that moment until now this figure has shot up more than 2500 hectares in the last four years of development.

Looking for the reasons to explain this phenomenon, we find an element that all analysts consider gravitating: Sierra Exportadora.

We talked with Engineer Alfonso Velásquez, president of Sierra Exportadora, at 48 hours of the change of command in the Peruvian government. We met at the headquarters of the Society of Industries, at our steps, in the "PPK bunker", President Kuchinsky was meeting with his cabinet and nearby. During the course of our interview, people with different messages and news crossed from one side to the other. Everything happens in the neighborhood of San Isidro, in Lima.

Mr. Velásquez tells us that Sierra Exportadora emerges as an irruptive and innovative element in terms of communicational processes and dares to formulate challenges, taking President Humala's speech to advance in social inclusion, decides to add productive objective to this objective.

His first task was to rescue the information from the closed circles of large companies and make them available to small producers, starting this true blueberry boom, under the motto "New products for new markets".

"We do not sow, we do not give money, but we build trust" says Velásquez.

- If the President asks, would he remain in command of Sierra Exportadora?

- Sure, of course I would stay ... we lack the jungle. My family, my essence comes from the jungle. How I would not like to project my work for the development of that region.

- What do you think of the new Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, José Manuel Hernández?

- Well, well, he is very competent, a man with a lot of experience. I would like your experience in irrigation to use it to establish a whole interconnected network of water use, which we need.

The leadership of Alfonso Velásquez, president of Sierra Exportadora, has been fundamental in the promotion of the blueberry industry in Peru, recognized by the public and private world, above all, recognized by the actors of the Latin American blueberry industry. Alfonso Velásquez has been Minister of State and was the first president of the Exporters Association, Adex.

Source: Blueberrieschile.cl - Blueberriesconsulting.com