Uruguay's citrus industry is starting to build up momentum in international markets thanks largely to the country's four-point strategic plan coming into fruition. 

The strategic plan included programs for national certification along with research and development, and was presented in 2010 by the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The main motive behind the plan was to address issues in the citrus sector like over-dependence on the European market and limited or no access to Asia or the U.S.

Uruguayan citrus advisor Federico Montes told www.freshfruitportal.com that in September last year the country's dream of opening up exports to the United States finally became a reality.

"Of the 63,000 [metric] tons of citrus exports to date, 5,200 were sent to the U.S., making it currently the industry's third most important market," Montes said.

He added that citrus exported to the North American country were sold under the brand 'Uruguay Natural', which was another point of the strategic plan, and he emphasized the importance of produce having a good image to consumers.

Having achieved success with the U.S., Montes is now working hard to open up potentially lucrative Asian markets.

"Last week we completed a mission in Indonesia, whose market has recently had its phytosanitary protocols relating to fruit flies changed," he said.

"While we were not able to sign the protocol allowing imports that receive cold treatment, the possibility of gaining access in the future remains open and we are still carrying out intense negotiations to try to open it up as soon as possible."

The industry is currently also working on varietal conversion and increasing the number of nurseries throughout Uruguay.

"The latter is a quantum leap for the country. It's a completely new way of producing citrus plants for us," Montes said.

www.freshfruitportal.com