Peru will participate in the London Produce Show & Conference to boost exports of asparagus, avocados, blueberries, citrus, mangoes, pomegranates and table grapes, among other fresh products to the United Kingdom.
Jaime Cardenas, counsellor of Trade and Investment at the Peruvian Economic Office in the UK, said the trade fair was going to be held from June 4 to June 6.
He added that there was great potential to increase Peruvian exports of fresh fruits and vegetables in the UK, especially given the growing trade in blueberries and pomegranates from Peru.
"We estimate that our exports to the UK will reach at least 82,500 tons this year, mainly because of the increased shipments of avocados and blueberries. This reflects a 15% increase compared with 2013, when 71,732 tons were exported," Cardenas said.
In the next five years, the new large-scale irrigation projects will help develop new modern production areas in coastal areas and in low mountainous areas of Olmos Chavimochic, Chinecas, and Majes -Siguas, said Cardenas.
"We hope that this additional production, which will have high levels of productivity, efficiency, quality and that will comply with the respective health rules will resonate in the UK market and with its consumers," he said.
Peru exports to the United Kingdom since 1990, when they began sending shipments of fresh asparagus and table grapes to the UK.
Since then, they have incorporated products such as avocados, citrus, mangoes, peas, bananas, pomegranates and blueberries into their export supply.
"Europe is the biggest market for Peru and, after the Netherlands, the UK is the second largest destination for Peruvian exports within the region. We're very interested in taking care of this special relationship and further developing the market," Cardenas said.
The unions that will be represented in the London Produce Show & Conference are the Agricultural Producers Association of Guilds of Peru (Agap), the Peruvian Association of Mango Exporters (EMPA), the Peruvian Asparagus and Vegetables Institute (Ipeh), ProCitrus, ProHass, Provid, and the newly created ProArándanos and ProGranadas .