On September 21, 2017, the United States authorized the entry of shipments of Ecuadorian pitahaya fruit from the production sites and collection centers registered and approved, as indicated in the Work Plan signed by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Ecuadorian Agency of Agricultural Quality Assurance (AGROCALIDAD), concluding the negotiation process between the two countries successfully.
Currently, there are 1,634 hectares of pitahaya cultivated, as well as 254 nationally registered Ecuadorian entrepreneurs among producers, collectors and fruit exporters.
Therefore, the export of pitahaya to the United States will generate great benefits to producers at the national level, mainly from the provinces of Morona Santiago, Guayas, Pichincha, Imbabura, Santo Domingo, Santa Elena and El Oro, which meet the importing country's established phytosanitary requirements, and are certified by AGROCALIDAD as the country's National Phytosanitary Protection Agency.
In 2016, 830 tons were exported; but with the opening of the US market approximately 8,000 tonnes are expected to be exported, according to estimates.
More information:
Dirección General de Comunicación Social
AGROCALIDAD
Av. Eloy Alfaro N30-350 y Av. Amazonas esq.
(593) 2 2567 232 ext. 153