For the fourth year in a row, Michoacan ranked first in Mexico's production value, with incomes totalling 40 billion pesos, 1.5 billion of which come from berries.
Ramon Cano Vega, Michoacan's Secretary of Rural Development, met with berry producers and officials of China's National Secretariat for Health Inspection and Quarantine, to analyse the phytosanitary requirements for the export of blackberry, blueberry, raspberry and strawberry from Michoacan to that country.
Michoacan is an entity that has a great climate and geographical diversity that allows it to grow more than 80 products in approximately 1,100,000 hectares. Of this area, 14,000 hectares are used for growing berries.
After a Mexican commission visited China, officials from the Secretariat in Beijing began to work hard to come to Mexico. This visit aims to make a risk analysis as it is an important process not only for Mexico, but also for all the countries seeking to export their products to China.
Peng Chunguag, one of the Chinese officials, said they were working hard to complete the data and information required to finish the risk analysis as soon as possible.
Much cooperation between both parties is needed to finish this analysis, as, apart from this visit, experts from both countries still need to conduct many exchanges.
According to ANEBERRIES, expectations are that the berry sector will generate up to 100,000 jobs per season, an estimated volume of 464,977 tons and an export value of over $900 million. 85-90 percent of the production will be sold to the U.S. and Canada, while the rest of the production will be sold to new markets, particularly Europe and Asia.
As part of the protocol program, the Chinese commission went to Los Reyes, where they visited blackberry plantations and berry packing facilities, and were able to verify the high quality, health and safety standards that are being used in Michoacan to produce strawberries.
Source: cambiodemichoacan