Over the past decade, Peru has demonstrated its ability to position itself as a leader in the export of red fruits, achieving the title of the world's largest exporter of blueberries in 2019. However, the story has been different for raspberries and cherries, whose development has faced multiple difficulties.
Despite attempts to introduce these crops into the Peruvian market, the results have been mixed. Initially, the Cajamarca mountain range was shown to be a suitable area for growing raspberries. However, logistical difficulties and the choice of unsuitable varieties prevented this fruit from taking off on the market.

State support
At the time, the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (Midagri) assessed that the Cajamarca mountain range would be suitable for raspberry cultivation. In 2017, Chilean and local experts saw the Cajamarca mountain range as a possible paradise for raspberries. But reality shows that it is not just about having the ideal climate, but also efficient logistics.
The lack of refrigeration infrastructure and the choice of varieties that were not suitable for transport frustrated expectations. In 2018, raspberry exports reached a volume of 16 tonnes, but enthusiasm quickly faded. One of the reasons for the failure was the choice of the Heritage variety.

This variety of raspberry is the most widely produced worldwide due to its flavour and resistance to various climates. However, this strength does not apply to logistics, since these berries are more delicate than blueberries and this makes their transport difficult. As a result, many producers gave up on this option and the crops never made it past the experimental stage.
Cherries are in a similar situation. Although their production is still in the experimental phase, efforts have been made for years to introduce the crop in the Andean country.

Second try
Specialists recognize that the main milestone is that Peruvian producers already have genetic material from Chilean cherries, which allows them to study in depth which varieties work best in Peruvian soil. The challenge of the climate is greater, because Peru is located in warmer latitudes than central Chile and these fruits require an adequate temperature, certain hours of cold. This is not the case on the Peruvian coast, but at a certain altitude in certain valleys.
According to the National Institute for Agrarian Innovation, by 2024, there were between 15 and 20 hectares dedicated to cherry cultivation in Peru. Companies such as Camposol, Beta and Agrícola Andrea are carrying out adaptation trials in Andean regions such as Ayacucho, Ancash and Arequipa.
In a strategic variant, raspberries are seeking their way into the frozen industry, because it is definitely a very sensitive and perishable product to promote its fresh export.