Improve conditions of entry of Peruvian blueberries to the US it would take between 2 and 4 years
The president of the Association of Producers of Blueberries of Peru (ProArandanos), Miguel Bentín, stressed that improving the conditions of entry of the Peruvian blueberry to the United States would take between 2 and 4 years.
He stressed that to achieve these better conditions of entry, his representative has focused on working three proposals (pre-shipment program, irradiation at destination and access to ports below the 39 parallel), for this they have been working with Senasa, and with a An advisory company, which has experience in similar issues because it worked in the conditions of access of the pomegranate and national avocado to that country.
Pre boarding program
It is a fumigation program at source, which implies spraying the cranberry with methyl bromide locally and giving it direct access from the origin to any place in the United States without the need to do the protocol at the destination.
"Currently the fumigation is carried out in facilities located in the areas where we can access, so we can not access with fumigation in destination to any other side than the northeast coast of the United States, if we fumigate at source we can have multi-access", said Bentin.
He also stressed that these tests are carried out in conjunction with Senasa in the area of Salaverry (Trujillo), where cameras have been installed that will allow obtaining the approved protocol for that destination.
Irradiation at destination
According to Miguel Bentín, irradiation is a process that uses nuclear energy to kill the pathogens of a product. It is also the safest and safest treatment among all the treatments that exist and is an alternative to fumigation methyl bromide.
By way of comparison, he said: "People prefer to add Baygón to their fruit than to put it in a microwave oven."
The owner of ProArándanos, said there is already experience of Peruvian fruit with this treatment. “The protocol that Peru has to follow for the entry of grenades into the United States is that of irradiation. In addition, there are many products in that country that radiate like meats, eggs, vegetables, however it is still a treatment that transcends public opinion as something negative, but I think it is one of the treatments of the future. ”
Access to ports below the 39 parallel
Today, Peruvian blueberries can only enter the United States above the 39 parallel and what is sought is to lift that restriction that is due to the fruit fly problem.
"The system approach means certifying areas of low fruit fly prevalence and we hope that in this way we will be granted the entrance of blueberries produced in these areas to ports and airports above the 39 parallel", the spokesperson said. In his opinion, of all the protocols this is the most ambitious and most sensitive because having a low prevalence zone system will not allow a larva to be found in the cargoes.
Other destinations
On the other hand, the owner of ProArandanos said that his representative also has an agenda to open the Asian market such as China, Japan and South Korea.
Thus, he gave some scopes:
China: It is waiting for the approval of the Pest Risk Analysis (PRA), and then move on to the visitation programs at origin. It is considered that we can enter this destination in less time than the United States.
Japan: Validation tests of the cold treatment for fruit flies should be performed. It will take a minimum of two years.
South Korea: The application to search for the entry of Peruvian blueberries has already been submitted and the initial report has been sent. The authorities of that country have expressed their willingness to move forward with the negotiations.
Brazil: The application has already been submitted and the report has been sent but there is no response from the MAP.
Bentín also said that bilateral meetings are scheduled with Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines.
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