Israel, the Newest Market for Peruvian Blueberry Exports

Published 2022년 6월 29일

PPIS and MIDAGRI announced that Israel is the latest market to open its borders to Peruvian blueberries. In 2021, blueberries entered Malaysia and India, and the country is working on entering South Africa, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and Indonesia in 2022.

Israel's Plant Protection and Inspection Service (PPIS) and the Peruvian Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (MIDAGRI) announced that they have completed the negotiations and inspections to allow Peruvian blueberries to enter Israel. Israel just became the latest market to open its borders to Peruvian blueberries. This is the first time Peruvian blueberries will be allowed into Israeli territory.

To open this new market, the National Agricultural Health Service of Peru (SENASA) had to analyze and comply with the phytosanitary requirements established for blueberry exports to Israel. As part of the phytosanitary requirements to enter Israel, Peruvian blueberries have to undergo cold treatment for the fruit fly pest and a phytosanitary inspection of every shipment. The government, agricultural organizations, and producers worked together to comply with the requirements to enter the Israeli market. It is expected that during the second-semester, Peruvian blueberries will start to be exported to this new destination.

Peruvian blueberries are now exported to 62 markets globally. Access to new markets is essential to generate new industry opportunities and position Peruvian blueberries globally. According to the Association of Agricultural Producers of Peru (AGAP), in 2021, blueberries entered Malaysia and India. The country is working on entering South Africa, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and Indonesia in 2022.

The Peruvian blueberry production has increased, allowing exports to increase as well. In the 2021/22 season, over 17.7K blueberry hectares in Peru are certified to export, representing a 30% increase from the 2020/21 season. Additionally this season, over 222.7K tons of Peruvian blueberries have already been exported, representing a 37% YoY increase. Forecasts indicate that 7% of all exported blueberries are organic and that the demand for organic blueberries will continue to rise.

Source: Agraria Peru

During this 2021/22 season, the largest destination for Peruvian blueberries was the United States (55%), the Netherlands (23%), China (12%), and the United Kingdom (5%). Access to new markets will be crucial to keep demand growing as supply grows. The entry to Israel and other Asian markets forecasts a growth in the Peruvian blueberry industry since high-quality berries are high in demand for Asian markets.