With an anticipated 500 tons (MT), Peruvian lucuma producers forecast 20% volume growth year-on-year for the 2013-14 lucuma season.

Peruvian Lucuma Producers Association (Prolúcuma) president Sergio Zignago said that the future of the increased volume will depend largely on markets.

"For the 2014 season, we hope to produce a similar quantity of frozen pulp. The production of the fruit is growing in volume, but it's an issue of how it is consumed. It all depends on the market, especially in Chile," Zignago said.

Chile has become Peru's top lucuma market, importing around 90% of the nation's recent exports. Demand in Chile has also increased and opened the possibility of expansion for Peru.

"The firm markets are Chile, the U.S., Colombia and Ecuador. We are working on exports to Europe, little by little," he said.

Production for fruit runs from November up to June. Exports are expected to extend from January to June, during the period of peak supply.

Zignago identified Seda as Peru's top variety, the nation's preferred variety for marketing.

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