Peru set for growth in frozen lucuma exports
With demand for frozen lucuma pulp rising each year, the Peruvian industry has good reason for optimism in the coming years as exports set to grow. Speaking with www.freshfruitportal.com, Prolúcuma general manager Sergio Zignago said there would be a considerable rise in exports for the 2013-14 campaign.
"Chile is increasing its demand for lucuma each year, but on the other hand the U.S. and Spain are too. There is a tendency to ask for just a little bit more," Zignano said.
Chile continues to purchase around 90% of shipments, but Zignano mentioned promotions in other continents were helping to increase demand further afield.
"We are considering new markets. In fact, we have taken a lot of care in investing to promote our product in other countries, mainly in Europe and Asia. But we have to go carefully - we can't dedicate ourselves to offering marvellous fruit if suddenly we can't satisfy this demand. Production and demand have to go hand in hand.
"Currently, production is well sought after, both for export and the local market. Everything produced is consumed, and if we want to open more markets and have more demand, we have to have more supply."
When asked about projections to enhance lucuma cultivation in Peru, Zignago said the association was teaching people how to grow the fruit, what the best varieties were, and also how to grow responsibly.
"We cannot go and buy and invest if demand doesn't grow; then there would be supply left over and so the price woudl drop, affecting growers," he said.
The executive mentioned that concrete information about the amount of hectares planted was not available, but he estimated it to be around 1,000 hectares. The industry also lacks information about varieties.
"About the varieties, it's complicated. There are two main ones which are the palo lucuma, more used for drying, and Beltrán.. There are many other varieties but which is the most produced hasn't been defined, and there is not a determined variety that is destined for frozen."
Photo: www.shutterstock.com
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