Smallholder passionfruit growers in northern Peru are gearing up to send a trial shipment to the Netherlands for the first time, with the help of government support.

Public entity Sierra Exportadora worked with the country's National Fruit Program to help three grower associations in Lambayeque gain access to the market.

The 45 producers are expected to export 100 metric tons (MT) of the tropical fruit to the Netherlands this year.

Speaking to www.freshfruitportal.com, regional Sierra Exportadora manager Patricia Monzón explained the fruit would be used in both the processed and fresh sectors.

"This is the first time the growers will export directly, so they will receive the benefits of higher prices, and with this program they will also be able to improve their production and become certified with GlobalGAP," she said.

Passionfruit is a major crop in the coastal Lambayeque region, with the vast majority of production sold to the U.S. or the Netherlands as pulp or concentrate for juices. Last year the sector brought in US$41 million to Peru.

The producers are currently selecting the fruit to be used in the initial trial shipment of 200 kilos, equivalent to 100 boxes.

The Dutch importer is paying 2.50 soles (US$0.74) per kilo - almost double the 1.30 soles (US$0.39) the growers receive in the domestic market.

"The company is assuming all of the costs related to transport, boxes, etcetera," Monzón added.

"The producers are really happy with the project and we're all very enthusiastic with these trial shipments. There are even other producers in the sector who see what we're doing and want to join the program.

"Our aim is to expand, for them to see we have a good product and for more requests to be made for greater volumes."

Association of Prada Farmers president Julio Hernan Castañeda hopes these trial shipments will improve opportunities for marketing, which he described as the group's ‘weak point'. 

The association was established 30 years ago and is made up of 20 members who together cover 140 hectares of farmland. Most of the land is used for mango production, but now the growers are dedicating 40 hectares to this project.

One cause for concern is the El Niño weather phenomenon, which has hit yields over the last month due to high temperatures hindering fruit set.

"We have a current yield of 500 kilos per hectare and on average under normal conditions it would be 1,500 kilos," Castañeda said.

"The good thing is that the crop is in production throughout the year, so we expect that productivity will return to normal once the weather stabilizes."

The 200-kilo trial shipment is expected to be sent sometime in June.

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