Growing demand for Peruvian mangoes in Korea

The Kent mango variety cultivated by Peruvian producers has reached the Korean market. Even though the Korean market opened its doors to Peruvian mango two years ago, the volumes shipped there are still small.

 

Currently, the demand for mangoes by Korean consumers and customers is growing due, in large part, to the excellent fruit quality that producers achieved, especially from the middle to the end of the campaign. At the beginning of the campaign, the weather was very cold in Peru and fruit's brix levels were lower than usual, which delayed the mango's optimal quality.

Peru's mango season is still active for Europe, where the market is growing. However, to export to Korea, producers need to meet some requirements, such as a certification of the plants by Korean government authorities and the presence of a Korean inspector in the same plants to verify that they are complying with the protocols; a requirement they can't currently comply with, as the inspectors have gone back to Korea. Thus, Acuña said, "the harvest continues, but we can't send more fruit to Korea without the presence of these inspectors."

 

The good quality of the mango, including its coloration, brix, and synchronization in the packaging process, are key requirements to export to any Asian country, where consumers are very demanding. In addition, exporters must take into account that the fruit's transit period lasts 25 to 30 days, and that the fruit must be sent in a controlled atmosphere.