With around 500 hectares devoted to citrus, grape and asparagus production in Peru, Grupo Huamani exports its products to many of the great worldwide markets, with the strategy of reaching emerging markets such as Brazil, Russia, India, China, Colombia, Central America and South East Asia.
Based in the province of Pisco, south of Lima, and around 20 kilometres away from the Pacific Ocean, Grupo Huamani is a producer, packer and exporter consortium. It has grown citrus, grapes and asparagus for 15 years and started exporting 10 years ago.
"We reach both hemispheres," said Miguel Altamiza, Export Manager of Grupo Huamani; "Europe, the United States, Asia and the Americas." Its plantations include 200 hectares for Tangelo Minneola, 200 for asparagus, 40 for Star Ruby grapefruit and 60 hectares for table grapes of the Red Globe, Flame and Sugraone varieties. From this production, the exportable volumes each season are approximately 260 containers of minneolas, 45 containers of grapes, 30 containers of grapefruits and around 60 containers of fresh green asparagus.
The desert climate is ideal for the development of the crops they grow, although with limitations in water resources. "Despite the lack of water we manage to obtain great quality products for many worldwide markets," said Altamiza. Low temperatures at night and high temperatures during the day result in fruit with very good characteristics and a high sugar content.
With a good water management, it is possible to produce and obtain a good performance per hectare using very few resources. "We use fertirrigation by means of a drip irrigation system to maximise efficiency in irrigation and fertilisation," explained Altamiza. They have also reduced the use of pesticides and introduced integrated pest management through biologic control. "We have installed a breeding laboratory for beneficial insects and received the "Green Farm" certification, reducing pesticide use to the bare minimum," stressed Altamiza.
Preparations are currently underway for the start of the citrus export season which will begin in June. Altamiza said that they can export citrus from June to September and asparagus from August to December. He also mentioned that the table grape season starts in November and ends in early January.
Grupo Huamani has all the certifications requested by the world's most demanding markets. "All our plantations are GlobalGAP certified and our Packing House has the BRC and Ethical Trade certifications," concluded Miguel Altamiza.
For more information:
Miguel Altamiza Nieto
Empacadora y Procesadora Huamani S.A.C.