Peruvian raspberry production more than doubles in 2016
While volumes may still be small relative to other producing countries, Peru's production of raspberries has shot up 120% over the last year. 
Sierra y Selva Exportadora executive president Alfonso Velásquez Tuesta said production through September this year reached 400 metric tons (MT), up from 180MT in 2015.
"We have also increased the number of planted hectares - we had around 80 hectares last year and now we have 180 hectares of raspberry plantations in the country," he said.
"If in 2011 there were barely 10 hectares of blueberries and now we are finishing 2016 with more than 3,300 hectares of this fruit, we are sure that raspberries can do much better," he said.
The representative also highlighted the berry was easy to grow and often fetched high returns for growers.
Eight regions of the country are currently growing raspberries - Arequipa, Áncash, Huánuco, Junín, Lambayeque, Tacna, Lima and Cajamarca, with 80% of production based in the latter two.
International Raspberry Organization president Antonio Domínguez explained the plants had adapted well to the Peruvian soil conditions.
He added that growers would have a good international market to export to, and said they should make the most of their marketing window which runs through September and October.
The representative said the U.S. was the biggest importer of the fruit - with the value of trade reaching US$822 million - followed by Canada, Germany and the U.K.
Peru's raspberry exports last year reached US$67,912, with Spain receiving the vast majority of volumes, followed by the Netherlands, Germany, U.K. and France.
Photo: www.shutterstock.com
