Pomegranate supplies from Peru are currently in good supply. “It’s just getting going in terms of the Wonderful (variety),” said Larry Davidson with North American Produce Buyers Ltd. Fruit is distributed whole for regular retail within Canada.
Quality is good, although the country has experienced quite a bit of rain – which could be a concern if it causes the fruit to split, he said. “But I don’t think it should be too much of an issue.” The bulk of the fruit will be received around March 15 and it will be a number of weeks until the transition to Chilean product. Davidson believes that pomegranate is somewhat over- planted from a worldwide perspective.
Its quick rise to fame led people to plant more. “I think now it’s gotten to the point where it’s mature and I know there are some growers even pulling them out. I think the viability from a grower’s perspective has as much to do whether they have the ability to use the full pomegranate (arils, juice).”
Peru recently launched its "Superfoods Peru" campaign to promote health boosting foods like quinoa, kiwicha, canihua, maca, yacon, chestnuts, carob tree, sacha inchi, Cusco's giant corn, purple corn, camu camu berries, cherimoya, soursop, lucuma, mangoes, grapes, tangerines and blueberries, asparagus, broccoli, avocados, pomegranates and cocoa.
