Blueberry producers from the Ecuadorian highlands formed the Ecuadorian Federation of Blueberry Producers and Exporters (Fepexa) with the aim of promoting the production of blueberries under the highest quality and environmental sustainability standards.
The organization, which brings together 22 producers located in the provinces of Carchi, Imbabura, and Pichincha seeks to position this fruit in the local market and in the Ecuadorian agro-export offer. Blueberries belong to the genus Vaccinium, a fruit with a sweet taste and great health-beneficial properties due to its high level of antioxidants. The cultivation of this crop began in 2015 when the first entrepreneurs carried out trials and pilot tests to confirm that Ecuador's climatic conditions were favorable for this crop.
Diego Garzon Zaldumbide, the president of Fepexa's board and a producer, said that “Ecuador is a country with great potential to produce excellent quality blueberries throughout the year thanks to its geographical and climatic conditions. 80% of the jobs this crop generates are carried out by women, contributing to the empowerment of women and granting them opportunities as the axis of the family economy."
"Fepexa was formed to unite producers, encourage the growth of the crop for export, improve the quality of the product at the national level, promote innovation, technology, and to stop the entry of smuggled blueberries that affect Ecuadorian producers.”
Consolidating a brand and opening international markets is part of Fepexa's planning, as well as generating new jobs and promoting this crop in Ecuador.
For more information:
Fepexa
Telf.: 593998968583
info@fepexa.org.ec