Peruvian government-backed group Sierra Exportadora has developed of a program to raise competitiveness and quality in the produce sector, with a strong emphasis on GlobalG.A.P certification.

In a release, the group said it was working with six grower organizations involved with grapes, apples, peaches and avocados to implement the initiative.

The campaign, officially dubbed the 'Program for Innovation and the Industries of Hass Avocados and othe fruits', will allow more export companies to develop operations in the country's sierra valleys.

Standardization is a key element of the scheme. As an example, Sierra Exportadora cited the fact that associations in Viscas (Cañete) aimed to find a 'national apple' over the medium term that could be as attractive as the imported crop and improve profitability for growers.

Sierra is also working with companies and university researchers to encourage the development of services in fruit processing and postharvest treatment. It said researchers from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú were working on automated lines for avocados, table grapes and cherimoya, which would be trialed by associations in Ancash, Arequipa and Lima.

Another group called 'Producciones Agrícolas Matilda' in Cusco has also taken advantage of the initiative, investing in a project to utilize discards from avocados grown in Limatambo and Abancay.

Sierra also helped in the formation of a consortium of grape, avocado and pomegranate growers in Arequipa, who are expected to start renting out a packing plant in March.

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