Peru wants to export its cherries to China, Japan and Korea. The CEO of Sierra Exportadora, Alfonso Velasquez Tuesta, said that the challenge of Peru is to export cherries to Asian countries like China, Japan and Korea, within the trade window that occurs between September and October.
He said that China had a population of 1,300 million people, of which only 300 million have the purchasing power to consume the cherries, which is considered a fruit for the elite that has health benefits.
"These countries are paying higher prices for cherries, as the average price is at US $8 per kilo, and prices in China can peak up to US $15 in the months where there is little global supply and up to US $25 in Japan and Korea," Velasquez said during the second day of the V International Berries and Cherries Seminar.
He added that the cherry could be a new business opportunity in the country, and that they could consolidate its success just as they did with blueberries and avocados, which were fruits that the country didn't export years ago.
Marlene Ayala, a professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, said the country should conduct research to choose the most appropriate type of cherry for the Peruvian climate, because its production requires between 150 and 1,200 hours of cold.
In this regard, she recommended identifying the areas that are best suited for the development of cherries. According to the head of the Peru Berries Program of Sierra Exportadora, William Daga, the Peruvian regions that have these conditions are Cajamarca, Junin and Cusco.
The researcher stated that the cherry was attractive nutraceutically, and that the fresh cherry had its own added value as it was an elegant fruit that was also widely used for gifts.
Meanwhile, Odilo Duarte, general manager of the Peru Frut Nursery, said that the first pattern of cherries that required few hours of cold would arrive in Peru in January 2016 so that they could start a trial production.
