Mexican berries have already conquered the US and Canadian market and are now aiming to do the same in Asian countries like Japan and China.
Berry producers are already exporting to Japan and plan to send their first shipments into China next year.
Currently, more than 95 percent of the production is sold to the United States and Canada and the rest is channelled to other countries in Europe and to Japan and Asia recently.
"If we can export to China, as we all hope we will, it'll be a plus, we are trying to expand our export horizon. Nowadays 95 percent of our market share is the US and 5 percent is to other destinations so we're trying to expand our range of target markets and open up a little more so we don't focus on just one, "said Mario Andrade, new president of the National Association of Berry Exporters (Aneberries).
Mario Steta, former president of Aneberries, explained that the full opening of the Mexican berries to China is scheduled for the next visit of the President of Mexico, Enrique Peña Nieto.
"The intention of the Secretary of Agriculture, Henry Martinez, is that to have this sector open by this date. The Mexican government is already extending a formal invitation to China so that they visit Mexico. We hope they accept and come, we believe that if they do, it wouldn't be hard for us to be there in Summer," he said.
The berries (strawberry, raspberry, blackberry and blueberry) have become one of the most dynamic product groups of the global food trade in recent years with sustained growth.
"We've doubled the surface, volume and value over the past four years and we think that will replicate this increase in the next five years," added Mario Andrade.
Source: Tribunadelabahia.com.mx