The Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA) announced the opening of the Canadian market for the export of Colombian blueberries.
This process began at the request of the private sector in 2019, specifically after the Asocolblue and Arándanos de Colombia guilds expressed to the ICA their interest to initiate the process to export their product to Canada.
The corresponding requirements to start exports were defined after several months of negotiations and technical meetings between the health authorities of both countries, in which they exchanged information on the phytosanitary condition of Colombia and its fresh blueberry production system.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Canada's health authority, said that Colombian blueberry exports had been authorized under a trial period, a process that must be met by all fresh temperate fruits that enter Canada. In addition, during the first shipments, all shipments will be inspected. Subsequently, inspection rates will be normalized. This is a standard procedure that Canada has to strengthen confidence during exports.
“Blueberry production systems are of great importance for rural families and for the country's economic growth. The opening of this market is a reflection of the work that the Institute carries out together with the public and private sectors, and small, medium, and large producers, to continue strengthening exports and achieving greater opportunities for our agricultural and commercial productive sector,” stated Juan Fernando Roa, ICA's general manager.
Colombia has approximately 550 hectares of blueberries and projects to have 1,000 hectares or more in the next five years.
Colombia, which can now export blueberries to Canada, already exported this product to other international markets, such as the United States, Russia, Singapore, Guatemala, the European Union, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Costa Rica, Panama, Thailand, United Kingdom, and Switzerland among other destinations.
Source: ica.gov.co