LA MOLINA, PERU - After nearly four years of collaboration between Peru’s Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (MINAGRI) and National Service of Agrarian Health (SENASA), Peruvian blueberries are finally being welcome across the Canadian border. 

Worth over $186 million, the Peruvian blueberry market has officially satisfied requirements stipulated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), who has since published the phytosanitary export requirements. 

Phytosanitary requirements agreed between the CFIA and SENASA to export this fresh fruit are:

• All production sites processing and packing fresh blueberries must be certified by SENASA.
• Request an import permit from the CFIA, for each export consignment.
• SENASA will issue the phytosanitary certificate, stating the following additional statement:
• "This shipment has been inspected and found free of all life stages of any pests regulated by Canada."

MINAGRI, who noted both Canada and the U.S as two of the biggest import markets in the world, commented that this new deal will represent a huge opportunity for Peruvian exporters and could help boost the country’s agricultural growth.

Peru currently has around 1000 hectares (2,470 acres) of blueberry production mainly throughout the regions of La Libertad, Ancash and Lima. However, officials from the country expect this to easily increase up to 4,000 hectares (9,880 acres) in the coming years, according to a press release. 

Before the addition of Canada, the country had been exporting fresh blueberries to the U.S., the Netherlands, the U.K. and Hong Kong.

Also noted in the phytosanitary requirements is that Canadians would accept blueberries treated with methyl bromide, but its possible application must be evaluated by the exporters in conjunction with SENASA.

SENASA said it was continuing to work toward gaining access to many more markets, including China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, South Africa, Chile and Colombia.

MINAGRI SENASA CFIA