Peru's Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (Midagri) announced that blueberry growers will be able to start exporting their fruit to Malaysia starting this year after the Malaysian Department of Agriculture (DOA) confirmed the phytosanitary requirements for the importation of this fruit. Malaysia thus joins the 58 markets to which Peru can already export its blueberries.
The National Agrarian Health Service of Peru (Senasa) will be the body responsible for ensuring, through phytosanitary certification, that the exports meet the requirements established by both countries.
“We remain committed to the country's agrarian development. The opening of new markets for our national fruit production offers our farmers more market opportunities and alternatives for commercialization,” stated Miguel Quevedo, head of Senasa.
Blueberry shipments from Peru to Malaysia must come from certified fields and have been processed in authorized packinghouses. They must also pass phytosanitary inspection, according to the requirements established by the importing country.
Once the phytosanitary inspection has been approved, shipments must undergo cold treatment. The blueberry production sites and the packing plants must be registered in the official list authorized by Senasa and the DOA.
Peru has established itself as the leading exporter of blueberries worldwide, managing to send 162,459 tons in the last season, which were mainly produced in La Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima, Ica, Ancash, Piura, and Moquegua.
A few months after starting this export campaign, Peru has already managed to send 62,724 tons to 31 international markets. The projection is to exceed this figure, at the same rate that it does every year.
Source: gestion.pe
