The Agro-industry Department coordinator of the Commission on the Promotion of Peru for Export and Tourism (PROMPERÚ), William Arteaga Donayre, confirmed that pomegranates will be this year's flagship Peruvian agro-export product at the international fair Fruit Logistica.
Arteaga said that there are plans to promote the fruit as a high quality product. This will begin at Fruit Logistica 2013, one of the most important events for the agricultural sector, in which Peru will take part as a guest of honour between 6 and 8 February.
Pomegranates are becoming widely accepted, which is why Peruvian exhibitors are motivated to present it as a flagship product. "Pomegranates started just like any other agro-export product; firms used to bring just two boxes to Fruit Logistica. Now larger volumes are purchased and consequently there are more plantations. I believe Peruvian pomegranates will be a trendsetter at the fair," he affirmed.
Promperú expects pomegranate sales to increase, which would motivate investments in the crop. "The sales made at the fair will convince many to expand pomegranate plantations."
In North and Central Peru there are already around 1,300 hectares for pomegranate cultivation.
The largest export markets are the United States and Russia. The fruit is also shipped to Asia and the Arab countries, both frozen and fresh.
Source: agraria.pe