The US market is one of the most desired markets in the world, as it has more than 313.8 million people, and a GDP that exceeds US$15 trillion and US$48,100 per capita. However, it is one of the hardest markets to enter, as the health eligibility processes are rigorous.
This is a situation currently being experienced by the Hass avocado (which is being planted in Santander) and the gooseberry.
According to Emiliano Arevalo, technical director of epidemiology and phytosanitary surveillance at the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA), the Ministry of Agriculture and the ICA "are exploring new areas in the country for the production of fruit that is suitable for export, such as the Hass avocado and the cape gooseberry, through the characterization of plant health, quarantine pests monitoring, and proposing mitigation techniques in each of the supervised areas."
According to Arevalo, these crops should be cultivated above 2,200 meters, where the climate factor does not allow the spread of pests.
The problem
The greatest problem all equatorial countries that want to enter the American market face is the fruit fly.
The country conducts the monitoring of quarantine plant pests in 7,070 hectares of avocado planted in Antioquia, Caldas, Tolima, Quindio, Risaralda, Valle del Cauca and Cauca.
This is why Colombia is able to export Hass avocado to markets less restrictive to pests, such as Europe, where sales in the first quarter of 2015 reached $4.6 million dollars and are expected to triple by the end of the year.
"We are looking to comply with the requirements and not have any inconvenience in plant health and safety, such as with residues of pesticides in plant products," he added.
After undergoing cold treatment, cape gooseberries can enter the US market.
Source: vanguardia.com