Exportacion de esparragos Peruanos se incrementara

Peruvian asparagus imports to increase this season
By Andy Nelson

(July 23, 4:47 p.m.) Importers expect strong demand for large volumes of Peruvian asparagus as the deal ramps up to its fall peak.By the first week of August, Pro*Act Specialties, Los Angeles, expects to be importing in volume from Peru, said Dean Simon, president.The company expects to import about 30% more asparagus from Peru this season, he said.Miami-based Fru-Veg Marketing Inc. also expects Peruvian imports to start peaking in early August, said Steve Espinosa, vice president of sales.Peak volumes from Peru should arrive in the U.S. in September, October and November, said Priscilla Lleras, coordinator for the Miami-based Peruvian Asparagus Importers Association.In 2007, the U.S. imported about 273 million pounds of asparagus. Lleras said about 56% of that came from Peru.Peruvian asparagus exports to the U.S. should be up about 8% to 10% over last year, she said.“Demand has been fair and steady,” Espinosa said. “We have some ads breaking, so movement is good.”Mid-summer prices were lower than the past two years, due in part to Mexico shipping later than it typically does, Espinosa said. Mexico could ship through mid-August this year, according to reports Espinosa had heard.Quality problems in Peru last season also exerted upward pressures on prices, Espinosa said.Simon expected markets to strengthen as Peru heads into its peak export season.“We’re looking forward to a good season,” Simon said. “Markets have been a little softer than last year, but they’re starting to firm up.”On July 22, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported prices of $18-20 for 11-pound cartons of jumbo green bunched asparagus from Peru, down from $30 last year at the same time.Pro*Act is shipping Peruvian asparagus this year in a new pack in which the unusable ends of spears have been cut off, Simon said. The Go Green packs are designed to limit waste and cut soaring shipping costs, he said.Growing weather in Peru has been cooler than usual this summer, but Simon expects continued good quality.Espinosa also expects good quality when peak volumes begin shipping, with abundant supplies of standard and large sizes.