The Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation (Minagri), Jose Arista Arbildo, met with a delegation from the US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to improve the access of Peruvian asparagus and blueberries to the US market.
The North American delegation together with its Peruvian counterpart, the National Service of Agrarian Health (SENASA), will visit the Ica region to check out the asparagus and blueberries' phytosanitary and safety conditions in cultivation fields, production and packaging areas, and post-harvest processes.
The minister said that asparagus exports had grown quickly since Peru became the biggest exporter of asparagus to the US. "I hope this work is fruitful and that we can have greater facilities for small and medium-sized Peruvian farmers," he said.
In 2016, Peru exported 123,710 tons of fresh asparagus for more than US $421 million. 80% of the asparagus production was sent to the USA.
Products demanded
According to Jorge Barrenechea Cabrera, the head of Senasa, the Peruvian asparagus and blueberry have already consolidated their phytosanitary status in the demanding US market. Now, the country expects the US will allow them to export their blueberries with fumigation at source so that the cold treatment be completed at its destination.
The United States is the main market for Peruvian asparagus, it accounts for more than 70% of Peru's exports, along with other products such as Tahiti lime, Hass avocado, papaya, mango, pepper, pomegranate, and figs.
Source: rpp.pe