Peru is the world's seventh biggest producer of passion fruit, a fruit that, thanks to the global trend for healthy foods, accounts for 60% of all Peruvian fruit pulp exports, stated the Association of Exporters (ADEX) during a press conference about the 'Strengthening the Passion Fruit Chain Congress'.
The vice president of ADEX, Max Alvarado, said that the exporting guild, the Minister of Agriculture, and PromPeru had formed the Fruit for Industry Working Group to develop its productive chain. "The goal is to work hand in hand with agricultural exporters and producers to transform this fruit, which is important in the big markets that produce juices," he said.
He stressed that Peru had 6,000 hectares on the entire coast, from the III and IV regions to Piura, which made it a great producer. 33% of the passion fruit is produced in Chimbote. 75% of the production is destined for the agroindustry, and 90% of the exports are of concentrate and juice presentations.
The first Strengthening the Passion Fruit Chain Congress will be held on August 7 in Chimbote. It will include different modules, such as the Genetics and propagation, crop management, and commercial promotion strategy module, which will include different topics, such as 'Brazilian Experience: The passion fruit production focused on the genetic improvement ',' Importance and benefits of the use of certified seeds', 'Nursery management of Passiflora', and 'Importance and role of pollination', among others.
Commercial promotion within Peru and in the world
According to Alvarado, the working group has identified a series of unfavorable conditions that prevent the country from developing a true industry, such as a lack of technical assistance to farmers and training, installation of certified passion fruit nurseries, and a lack of plant variations, among others.
He also said that they would implement a system of certified passion fruit seed production, that they would strengthen the development of producers, and that they would carry out a commercial promotion strategy in Peru and in the world.
The market that demanded the most Peruvian passion fruit in 2017 was the Netherlands, followed by the USA, Chile, Puerto Rico, and Australia.
The director of exports of PromPeru, Luis Torres, said they were working to turn this fruit into a new export star.
Source: gestion.pe