W12 Strawberry Update: Peruvian Strawberry Exports Decline in Feb-24, EU Monitors Second Batch of Moroccan Strawberries for Hepatitis A

Published 2024년 3월 30일

In W12 in the strawberry landscape, Peruvian strawberry exports, with Canada and the US as primary destinations, decreased by 54% YoY in Feb-24. On the other hand, the EU is monitoring a second batch of Moroccan strawberries infected with Hepatitis A in Mar-24. Meanwhile, the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute is exploring strawberry cultivation for market potential and training Bahamians.

Peruvian Strawberry Exports Dropped by 54% in Feb-24

In Feb-24, Peruvian strawberry exports totaled 1.8 thousand tons, a 54% year-over-year (YoY) decrease from the previous year's 3.9 thousand tons. These strawberries were exported to 8 countries, with Canada (35%) and the United States (34.8%) being the primary destinations. Leading exporters were Interglobo Perú SAC (22%) and Del Ande Alimentos SAC (16%), with 23 purchasing companies involved in the trade.

EU Continues Monitoring as Second Batch of Moroccan Strawberries Infected with Hepatitis A Detected

Spanish health authorities have detected a second batch of Moroccan strawberries infected with Hepatitis A at the border, destined for Poland. The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) raised the alert and informed the community authorities and Poland, as it was the shipment's destination. The European Commission continues to monitor the situation. The agricultural organization La Unió Llauradora i Ramadera (LA UNIÓ) has asked the EU to take consumer health more seriously and establish more controls. They also requested reciprocity for imported products to comply with European standards. This is the second alert in Mar-24, following another shipment of Moroccan strawberries infected with the virus.

BAMSI Explores Strawberry Production to Tap Market Potential and Train Bahamians in Harvesting and Grading Techniques

The Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) is investigating the cultivation of strawberries to assess its market potential and to train Bahamians in harvesting and grading techniques. This initiative is based on the previous cultivation of strawberries in the Bahamas 25 years ago, which suggests potential for growing other tropical crops. Despite challenges such as heavy rainfall on Dec-23, the quality of the harvested strawberries remains high, highlighting the value of this initiative.