Peru: Asparagus growers switching to grapes and blueberries

After registering an average annual growth rate of 12% in the last four years, Peru's asparagus exports are expected to register a slight decrease during 2014 and 2015.

According to Scotiabank's estimations, Peruvian asparagus exports in 2014 will make $ 570 million, five percent less than in 2013, while in 2015 this figure would drop by about 2%. 

"Sales are going satisfactorily, although prices have dropped slightly and we are having some problems with logistics. We depend mostly on two airlines and one of them is reducing its services because it has chosen to ship freight from other locations that pay better prices," states Ramón Aparcana, General Manager of Peak Quality S.A.; a company devoted to growing, harvesting, packing and exporting fresh green asparagus, blueberries, blackberries and pecans to the U.S., Europe and Asia. 

"I see fewer asparagus in Peru than in previous years, even though statistics say that there is a greater production. What is happening is that there is a drop in demand for frozen asparagus and growers are using that production in the fresh market," he explains 

This drop in production, according to Ramón, is caused by climatic factors and the switch of many small or medium producers to more profitable crops, such as blueberries or table grapes. 

"Since last year, we are noticing a great switch to other crops; next year we actually plan to start producing table grapes," he affirms. 

Meanwhile, blueberries are expected to become the most profitable crop in the coming years and, although the fruit requires a large initial investment, the number of Peruvian companies that are deciding to cultivate it is growing at a rapid pace.