Chile's Agriculture and Livestock Service (SAG) has announced certification of pomegranates for entry into U.S., Russian and European Union markets, newspaper Diario de Atacama reported.

The move could increase country's pomegranate exports by close to 90% to more than 1,000,000 cartons, according to SAG forecasts and last year's figures.

In the 2009-10 season Chile exported 570,000 4kg cartons of pomegranantes, of which 40% were from the Atacama region in the north of the country, the story reported.

This year the region expects to increase production by 120%, with harvesting work prolonged until mid-May, Diario de Atacama reported.

SAG regional director Eduardo Monreal Bauning told the newspaper projections were based on the target markets' current and expected demand, which is increasing.

Peru is also increasing its role in the global pomegranate market, with a 94.1% rise in exports of the fruit in January and February, compared to the same period in 2010, website Agraria.pe reported.

The Peruvian Exporters Institute (IPEX) said consumption of the fruit has risen in Spain, Germany, France and Switzerland, with expectations Peru's exports will rise 30% this season, the website reported.

Peruvian customs figures show the country exported US$3.9 million worth of pomegranates in 2010.

Photo: Flickr, Mari Smith

Source: www.freshfruitportal.com