Two years after Colombia managed to open up the U.S. market for golden berry imports, another South American country is hoping to follow in its lead.

According to Peru's public entity Sierra y Selva Exportadora, authorities from the Andean country recently sent a request for market access to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Golden berries, which go by numerous names including aguaymantos, physalis, and Cape gooseberries, have soared in popularity over recent years in Europe - Peru's only available export market at present.

Sierra y Selva Exportadora said it had been developing a work plan along with other public and private entities to introduce the exotic fruit into the U.S. market.

Peru's fresh golden berry exports in 2015 were valued at US$21,000, marking a 151% year-on-year increase, and Sierra y Selva Exportadora has projected this figure could skyrocket to US$500,000 upon gaining U.S. market access.

The fruit currently fetches between US$5-6 per kilo in the U.S., where it is only imported from Colombia, according to the organization. The South American country is now generating US$15 million annually from the trade.

Sierra y Selva Exportadora added that the fruit had strong potential in the U.S., given the consumer trend toward healthy foods. As well as containing high levels of vitamins A, B and C, the entity said the berries could lower cholesterol and stabilize blood glucose levels.

The vast majority of Peru's total golden berry exports, valued at US$1.8 million, are currently represented by dried fruit and value-added products like conservatives.

www.freshfruitportal.com