Peru exported US$46 million worth of organic products in the first quarter of 2011, representing year-on-year growth of 48.3%, website Andina.com.pe reported.

The statistics released by export and tourism commission Promperú, showed bananas made up more than a third of organic exports with a value of US$17.9 million.

The second-highest organic export was coffee with a value of US$16 million, representing a 119.4% rise on the same period last year, the story reported. Cocoa was third-highest product with a total value of US$5 million.

Other organic products showed strong growth in the quarter such as mangoes with 35.6% growth to US$3 million, passion fruit with 3,127% growth to US$94,000 and asparagus with 649.3% growth to US$242,000, the story reported.

Peru's organic bananas made their entry into the Korean market, while organic mangoes and quinoa were exported to New Zealand.

Photo: MINAG

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