Peru: Pomegranate exports on the rise in Ica

"The department of Ica is a region with a warm desert climate, which makes this area particularly suitable for precision agricultural farming. Our pomegranates contain arils of a ruby red colour and have a good acidity and Brix; they cause an explosion of taste in consumers' palates," states Arturo Zaldívar.

Agrovictoria owns 3,250 hectares, of which over 1,000 are planted with grapes, pomegranates and avocados. The company's careful production system allows it to ship more than 80% of its fruit to the fresh market and less than 20% to the processing sector.

"This year we have focused on consolidating existing markets for our pomegranates (Europe, Canada, Asia and the UK) and explore new destinations (Far East and South East Asian countries). We are also waiting for the phytosanitary restrictions in the U.S. to be lifted."

During one part of the campaign, Peru competes with Chile, Argentina and South Africa in a global market which, according to Arturo, pays good prices, as interest in the fruit and demand continue to grow.

"Last season we exported 25 containers and this campaign we surpassed 100. For the next, we hope to exceed 300 containers, with our ceiling being at 700 containers of fresh fruit," he affirms.

The Benalcázar family, which loves Peru, found a favourable climate for agriculture in Ica, and in 1995 it settled down permanently in the valley, starting with the cultivation of fresh green asparagus, which was the most popular crop at the time.

As the years passed, their business vision and acumen led them to become pioneers in table grape cultivation on the plains of Villacurí. This great leap towards precision farming allowed Agrovictoria to become one of the leading companies in the perishables market.

"Our mission is to be a leading company in the fresh fruit sector, delivering products of the highest quality, safety and value to our customers around the world; developing and promoting the way of life of our employees and respecting the environment and our natural resources. We also aim to remain leaders in domestic agriculture, creating proprietary technology, using our natural resources in a sustainable manner, and promoting the spirit of excellence amongst our employees," concludes Arturo