The opening of the Chinese market for Mexican raspberry and blackberry will make this sector grow in the state of Jalisco. According to forecasts by the Ministry of Rural Development (Seder), once the Chinese markets accepts imports of berries from Jalisco the current 3,000 acres of berries and 20,000 jobs this production produces will triple.
"Entering China is a great opportunity to increase our acreage to 6,000 hectares in the coming years and then to 10,000 hectares. There are many benefits, these berries are replacing some consumer habits; for example, they are being sold in theatres in the United States instead of popcorn and they are replacing bananas at breakfast, because they have less calories, taste great, and provide energy to live day by day," said the Director of Comericializacion de Seder, Rene Lopez Ruelas.
In the past five years, the cultivated area of berries multiplied in Mexico, primarily in Jalisco and Michoacan, leaders in the production of strawberry, blueberry, blackberry and raspberry. According to the National Association of Berries Exporters (Aneberries), there were 4,236 hectares planted with berries nationwide in 2009 and by 2013 the country had 22,345 hectares.
Last year, domestic production amounted to 538,849 tons with a value of $9,000,337,000. 90% of the production was exported to the United States and to Canada, the rest to Europe.
Aneberries estimates that the 11 companies participating in the certification process to export to China will sell up to 100 million dollars over the next five years.
The secretary of the civil partnership, Mario Steta, agrees that it is possible to triple the acreage of berries in Jalisco, but says that growth will depend on several factors, not just China.
The businessman said that the sales forecasts for China had to be conservative, as they still don't know what the market's depth is. The first year will serve as an opportunity to get to know the market, he stressed.
Source: informador.com.mx