Peruvian investors have put into the cultivation of blueberries due to the income it can bring; approximately USD 120,000 per hectare, and profits of USD 80,000 to USD 90,000 per hectare, because of the high price of the fruit in international markets, above the USD 14 per kilo.
"The blueberry business is shaping, undoubtedly, as one of the most attractive for the Peruvian horticultural industry in the coming years," said a Chilean businessman, who has been living in Cañete.
While Peru is ready to enter as a new supplier of this fruit levering its advantageous climatic conditions over other international producers such as Chile and Argentina, the market is already waiting for Peruvian blueberries, he said.
"Every month we receive dozens of calls and emails from the outside looking for Peruvian blueberries for months that this fruit will be scarce, ie. for the months of September, October and November, months that neither Chile nor Argentina can provide the market, when the demand in Europe and America is strong and is well paid, at good price," he explains.
He stressed the importance that Sierra Exportadora is giving blueberry projects in different mountainous parts of Peru where already there are a couple of plots of a total of 18ha project that will be cultivated.
This is a crop that requires great dedication and great use of manpower, and other characteristics that make it very demanding. Both Chile and the U.S. are the countries leading blueberry production for export.
According to Unzueta, Peru can grow these berries from 0 to 3,000 m without searching for cold climates. " A cold climate is not necessary to produce Blueberries, this is a crop that Peru can manage almost in a tropical way, although it is not how this fruit its normally grown. It works and bears fruit," he said.
He explained that the marketing window for which Peru is producing, has great prices as fresh fruit, so in general, projects are oriented toward it.
Regarding the use of packings, he said that this fruit is compatible with the production of other fruits and can use the chambers when it is not being used. "There is capacity to handle large volumes of fruit with appropriate conditions that ensure the arrival to its destination in good condition," he said.
As for markets, he said the main one is Europe, for which phytosanitary protocols already exist and it is only required to obtain various certifications that are asked for by countries, such as Global Gap.
Source: Chilealimentos
