The Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (Midagri) announced that the blueberries harvested in Peru can now enter the Israeli market, after the official communication from the Plant Protection and Inspection Service (PPIS) of that country.

The National Agrarian Health Service (Senasa), an affiliated agency and strategic arm of Midagri, took steps to formalize access to this fruit, achieving that, to date, the so-called Peruvian "blue gold" has the opportunity to be marketed in 62 international markets.

“The management of access to new markets is essential to continue generating opportunities and ensure that our products are consolidated worldwide; These actions go hand in hand with field work, which is focused on giving phytosanitary support, ensuring the health and safety of our agricultural products,” said the head of Senasa, Miguel Quevedo.

The entry of blueberries into Israel represents the conquest of a potential market of 9.2 million consumers from that Near Eastern country. Likewise, the phytosanitary requirements established for the export of blueberries to Israel contemplate the cold treatment for the fruit fly pest and the phytosanitary inspection prior to the shipment of the shipment.

THE “PERUVIAN BLUE GOLD”
The agro-export growth of blueberries has positioned Peru in the first places worldwide, reaching the certification of 222,714 tons, with an area of ​​17,707 hectares during the 2021-2022 campaign. These figures represent a 37% growth in export volumes and 30% in crop areas, compared to the 2020-2021 campaign.

The contributions of the regions to the export of this fruit are: La Libertad (49%), Lambayeque (22%), Lima (20%), Ica (8%), Ancash (7%) and Piura (5%). “Access to new Asian markets generates great expectations for the sector; considering that these countries are characterized by their higher demand”, stressed the Midagri official.

In the 2021-2022 campaign, the main export destinations were: the United States (55%), the Netherlands (23%), China (12%), the United Kingdom (5%) and other countries, the remaining 5% of the total volume. certificate for export.

PROJECTIONS

The 2022-2023 blueberry campaign in Peru began in week 18 and, after reaching shipments of 300 tons in the first weeks, the Association of Blueberry Producers of Peru (Proarándanos), projects that by the end of June weekly exports will be around 700 tons as harvests progress in the fields of the north and central coast.

Likewise, the entity confirmed that the 15% growth projection in the volume of blueberry exports for the 2022-2023 campaign is maintained compared to the previous campaign, with shipments that would reach 276.000 tons.

According to Diario Gestión, Peru has managed to consolidate itself as the main exporter of blueberries worldwide, conquering markets such as the United States and China (where 12% of national production is directed).

Given this growth, Peru cannot be left behind, since Mexico has managed to accelerate its berry production in recent campaigns, said Daniel Bustamante, president of Proarándanos.

"For this reason, the idea is to have an open world, that is, to have new markets that, although further away, allow us to diversify the destinations of the Peruvian blueberry," said the executive.

In this sense, during 2021, Peru made its first shipments of blueberries to India, with 23 tons, and for this year it is expected to considerably increase the volume to that destination, as well as to Malaysia. Meanwhile, after the opening of Israel this 2022, the first shipments would be made in this campaign.

Bustamante also commented that while Israel is a market with a small population, it is in high demand. Likewise, he pointed out that Proarándanos will continue working hand in hand with the National Agricultural Health Service (Senasa) to open the Japanese market, which has high potential both due to the number of consumers and their purchasing power.