It is essential to keep investing in infrastructure to process organic bananas to add value to the product being exported to the United States, said the Trade Office (Ocex) of Peru in Los Angeles.
The United States has become the main destination of Peruvian organic banana exports and, if this trend continues, Peru could displace the Dominican Republic as the main supplier to the US in the coming years, they stated.
According to figures from the Commission of the United States international trade (USITC), Peruvian exports to the United States amounted to $53 million dollars in 2015.
Therefore, the main challenge, so that the Peruvian organic banana industry continues to grow and position itself as a global leader, is to improve the competitiveness of the supply chain to improve the exportable offer.
That's why it's essential to continue investing in infrastructure to process the bananas, to continue adding value to the product.
The sector should also consider investing in research to prevent the establishment of pests in the culture and to develop control measures that minimize damage to the crop.
Finally, they said, having certifications, such as the USDA Organic or Fair Trade certifications, would be very advantageous in achieving a greater presence and to improve the product's positioning in one of the biggest markets for organic products in the world.
Exports
According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (Minagri), Peruvian organic banana exports grew by 94% in the last five years, making Peru one of the main suppliers of this product worldwide.
In 2015 Peruvian organic banana exports increased by 22% over 2014, and amounted to 145 million dollars, as they were being marketed at an average price of 0.76 dollars per kilo.
