Once again, Arequipa ranked first place in the production of onions, concentrating 60% of what is grown nationwide and showing a sustained average annual growth rate of 5.7%.
Arequipa produced 1,600 tons of the Pink Panther and yellow onion varieties on 8,500 hectares.
According to the general manager of the Association of Exporters (ADEX), Alberto Infantes Angeles, the local market's behaviour is positive because the region was more dynamic than the rest of the country, especially because the El Niño affected agricultural production in the north.
"In the first six months of 2016, the agricultural industrial sector grew by 20% and sales to the international market rebounded."
"During the same period last year, local enterprises sold 56 million dollars abroad, while this year they managed to export 70 million dollars," he said.
Market
The market's behavior has rebounded thanks to onion, avocado, artichokes, and Brazil nuts, which are grown in the territory.
The positive side of this process is that they should achieve peaks such as those reported in 2013, where sales reached 73 million dollars.
According to the executive from ADEX, they have the ability to provide their products to the world in a sustainable manner.
"The main markets are the US, Spain, Taiwan, the Netherlands, and now China. Currently, there is a mission from China in our country evaluating what products they can buy sustainably, because they have a very large consumer market with 1.3 billion people," he said.
Data
35% of Arequipa's agroindustrial production is destined to the United States.
Source: mercadosyregiones.com