Peru Became The World’s Leading Exporter Of Blueberries And Grapes

March 11, 2022   

In 2021, Peruvian fruit and vegetable exports grew by 21% over 2020 and by 3% compared to 2019, according to data provided by the Association of Exporters (ADEX). Fruit exports increased by 26% over the previous year. Grapes, blueberries, and avocados were the main fruits of Peru’s agro-export basket.

“Peru knocked it out of the park with its blueberry. It’s a crop that Peruvians don’t consume, but worldwide consumption is increasing. Peru went from literally not exporting blueberries in eight years to becoming the world’s second-biggest exporter, and then the leading exporter of blueberries,” stated Alejandro Fuentes, the president of the Association of Agricultural Producers Guilds of Peru (AGAP).

Alejandro Fuentes said that Peru was also the world’s leading exporter of table grapes, but that it had achieved this after more years of arduous growth in the industry. “That has taken us about 20 years, it did not happen so fast as it did with blueberries. We surpassed Chile in value and now we are the leading exporters, followed by them and the United States,” he said.

Regarding avocado, Peru is still a long way from Mexico, but Fuentes highlights the growth that the country has had in recent years. “Ten years ago we were a tenth, today we are half. True, we are still far from Mexico, but we are clearly growing.”

Finally, Fuentes said that exports were important for Peruvian companies to start establishing themselves in the formal sector and to generate jobs. “Agriculture is a very labor-intensive industry. Agro exports employ a million people. While agriculture, as a whole, employs four million people,” he said.



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