Ecuador's fruit and vegetable exports generated $ 3.2 billion dollars between January and November of last year. International fruit shipments, including shipments of pitahaya, pineapple, mango, and non-traditional fruits - banana, plantain, and orito - accounted for 3,095 million euros of the total exported.
On Tuesday, January 21, 2020, Ecuador officially announced it would participate in the Fruit Logistica 2020 Fair and that, for the first time, it would do so as a strategic partner. In the event, which will take place from February 5 to 7 in Berlin, Germany, Ecuador will promote its fruits under the Ecuador Premium & Sustainable brand to position the five pillars of its production: sustainability, social responsibility, business, traceability, and flavor.
The country will also promote its soursop, pomegranate, tree tomato, potato, broccoli, blackberries, and strawberries at the event. In addition, the country will promote the certifications that distinguish its crops, stated the Minister of Agriculture, Xavier Lazo. This includes environmental protection, living wage in the banana industry, and fair trade certifications, among others.
The producers of 38 companies, large and small, have high expectations for this meeting. They expect to make sales for 21.8 million dollars in the three-day event.
According to Nora Ramon, a representative of the Federation of Small Organic Agricultural Exporters of the South of the Ecuadorian Amazon, Fruit Logistica will also be an opportunity to get to know the needs of the market and new marketing strategies.
Ramon says that fair trade certifications and transparency in their management have allowed them to open markets in Germany, Belgium, and the United States. Their buyers can verify the origin of each fruit thanks to a virtual monitoring system installed in the production lines.
Meanwhile, Renato Herrera, of the Association of Small Producers of San Miguel de Brasil, in El Oro, will promote his organic banana production in Berlin. "This production is free of chemicals, eco-friendly, with lower CO2 emissions, and with priority [axes] for the rural sector," he said. Herrera aims to export 100% of its production to Germany, where he currently allocates 70% of it.
Source: eltelegrafo.com.ec