Ecuadorian pitahaya exports experienced impressive growth last year. According to the Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Regulation and Control Agency (Agrocalidad), pitahaya exports registered a 60% year-on-year increase, rising to 17,895 tons.
The Ecuadorian pitahaya was shipped to 27 countries and the US was its largest destination market, accounting for just over 84% of all exports. It was followed by Colombia and Singapore with 5.4% and 2.7%, respectively.
As of December 31, 2021, there are 2,051 pitahaya production sites registered for export in 21 provinces nationwide, Agrocalidad stated. In addition, there are phytosanitary requirements to export this fruit to 54 countries.
These production sites are monitored to avoid the presence of fruit flies as part of the Operational Work Plan signed between Ecuador and the United States, which also requires that all fruit exported to their country from Ecuador be processed within collection centers registered and approved as pest-exclusion structures. Morona Santiago has 65% of these registered production sites, followed by Manabí with 8%, and Pichincha with 5.5%.
The Agency also has 167 collection centers that meet these conditions distributed in 9 provinces: Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Pastaza, Cotopaxi, Tungurahua, Los Ríos, Manabí, Guayas, Pichincha, and Morona Santiago (which concentrates a total of 80).
Source: eluniverso.com