The Peruvian fruit industry is hopeful for a Japanese market opening for its mandarins, with expectations a protocol would be followed by negotiations for table grapes and blueberries.

Association of Agricultural Producer Unions (AGAP) president Enrique Camet told local press outlet Agraria.pe the protocol for mandarins should be ready by the end of this year.

"There is a whole trading future to build with Japan. Our produce sales could easily quintuple in the short-term to this destination," Camet was quoted as saying.

In 2015, Japan purchased US$34 million worth of Peruvian fruits and vegetables, of which US$7 million was from fresh product and US$27 million from frozen.

Procitrus managing director Sergio del Castillo told www.freshfruitportal.com entry for Peruvian mandarins was still on the negotiating table.

"Soon there will be a meeting between official delegates from both countries to progress in the protocols," he said.

"Mandarins are declared by Japan as sensitive products for Japan so I wouldn't want to claim access will be a reality this year, as in the end it will be a unilateral decision from Japan and we wouldn't want to be saying access will be gained when in reality we're not sure."

Del Castillo did however point to a "willingness" from both parties to continue negotiations, and said he hadn't heard of any opposition from Japanese growers.

"Our hope is that the mandarin protocol negotiations finish this year and that the next ones continue with grapes and blueberries. That is the priority that has been determined by the official parties from both countries.

"Growers would be able to diversify their exports even more with a high-price market, although in the first year export volumes would be discrete, some 2,000 [metric] tons.

"If there is a good acceptance of our fruit, volumes could increase substantially."

Photo: www.shutterstock.com

www.freshfruitportal.com