Taking into account the demand and trends in the international market, AGEXPORT's AGRITRADE platform has identified the blueberry as an alternative to diversify the country's agricultural exports.
This organization's agricultural sector is participating in the International Senior Management Program for the Blueberry Industry, which is taught by international experts from Chile, Peru and the United States. The program is being held in Bogota, Colombia, in a follow-up to the previous seminar in Mexico.
According to experts, blueberry consumption in the United States has increased in recent years by 31%, in Europe by 76%, and in China by 140%. The northern hemisphere is the world's largest consumer of this fruit. It is important to note that the cherry is the most consumed berry in the Chinese market and that the blueberry is its immediate substitute. As a result, this agricultural product produced in Guatemala has a high export potential, said the Director of AGEXPORT, Estuardo Castro.
To enter this product into the US market, Guatemala needs the US to approve a phytosanitary export protocol, which they expect to obtain this year, thanks to work being done by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food, with the support of the Guatemalan Embassy in Washington.
Colombia started the blueberry production program in 2011 with a couple of hectares and with the Biloxi variety. Currently, they are testing new varieties and have more than 100 hectares in production, which mainly supply the national market. However, they have already implemented a local program to increase production, seeking to enter the international markets, mainly the United States.
This crop can also be developed in Guataemala as the agro-climatic conditions of the producing region in Colombia and Mexico are very similar to the areas of the western high plateau of Guatemala. To do this, producers must grow some test plots in different regions to validate the different varieties (biloxi, ventura, victory, among others), Castro said.
Source: Agexport