A Peruvian agriculture group seeks to increase exports of mango from Piura and avocado from Ayacucho in the 2011 season, according to agriculture news website Agraria.pe.

The Peruvian Consortium for Agriculture (COPERAGRO in Spanish) would send 100 containers of mango, half to the United States and half to Europe, according to Juan José Gal’Lino, president and director of the organization, the website said. The avocado would go to Europe.

“In the first trimester, we hope to export 20 containers of avocado,” he is quoted as saying. Each container holds 20 metric tons.

This will be the first campaign for mango and avocado for COPERAGRO, which formed in April. It offers technical assistance, consolidation of supply, processing, distribution, marketing, development of brand and financial expertise to small- and medium-size growers.

In Ayacucho, there are about 60 small growers who are trying to consolidate their supply of avocado and quinoa, the website said. “In Piura, we are working with an average of 15 to 20 mango growers, who account for 20 or 30 hectares, including some who have only 4 or 5 hectares,” Gal’Lino is quoted as saying.

Regarding working with small growers, Gal’Lino is quoted as saying: “We have gotten a positive response, even though we are heading a new scheme, where we try to group them so that they can market their products under one brand and the same management, optimizing their income, without intermediaries.”

Gal’Lino said COPERAGRO that in 2011, the group may expand into citrus, focusing on mandarins.

Photo: www.livinginperu.com

Source: www.freshfruitportal.com