The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investigating the possibility of lifting quarantine barriers for 30 different Peruvian products this year, reported local website Agraria.com.pe.

Peru’s National Agriculture Sanitary Service (SENASA) said the fruits include figs, prickly pears, papayas, passion fruit, custard apples, tomatoes and camu camu, which is an Amazonian relative of the guava berry.

USDA undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs Edward Avalos said requests to lift barriers related to crop and livestock products from Peru’s coast, mountain and forest regions, according to Agraria.

Interamsa Agroindustrial S.A.C. export manager Marco Zung told the website it was “quite difficult, almost impossible, that the fig could pass the study of the USDA and APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service), due to the sensitivity of the product, in relation to the ripening time and its effects on the fruit fly”.

But on a more positive note he told Agraria that fig exports were expected to grow 20% in 2011.

Herbs such as bay, sage, mint and rosemary are also pending USDA approval to lift barriers to entry for Peruvian exporters.

Source: www.freshfruitportal.com