Officials and business owners from the Peruvian delegation cut the ribbon to unveil the Peruvian pavilion at the Asia Fruit Logistica 2017 on September 6 in Hong Kong. photo : Li Ying /GT





One of the world's leading agricultural exporters, Peru is expecting to sell more fruits and vegetables to the Chinese market, said Peruvian commerce and trade officials at the international trade fair Asia Fruit Logistica 2017 in Hong Kong on September 6.



A campaign to brand Peruvian grown fruits and vegetables as "super foods" to Asian consumers was launched at the fruit expo, which will take place at the Asia World-Expo Center from September 6 to 8.



The term Peruvian "super foods" refer to grapes, cranberries, avocado, citrus fruits, mango, pomegranate and asparagus, which are the main produce being exported to overseas countries, exhibitor said.



Peruvian exports of fruit and vegetables to China stood at $62 million in 2016, the top-ranked products being fresh grapes, avocados and asparagus. China started importing Peruvian avocados in 2015. Peruvian cranberries and pomegranates are expected to be available in China soon.





A snack made of avocado, one of the Peruvian "super foods" Photo: courtesy of Mint





But for Peru, there is still space for growth in the Chinese market where consumer demand for imported fruits is fueled by the rising number of middle class families.



The free trade agreement between China and Peru, which has been in force since 2010, also provides a promising future in Peru's fruit exports to China, said Luis Torres, the Peruvian government's director of export promotion.



Agricultural exports are one of the driving forces behind Peru's economic development and have helped to make the country an economic powerhouse in Latin America. The fruit and vegetable sector has proved to be one of the country's most dynamic industries with an annual growth of 16 percent from 2012 to 2016. Exports to China rose by 17 percent year-on-year during the same period.



It is Peru's tenth year participating the fruit trade fair. The Asian markets are the most dynamic ones for Peruvian exports and already represent one-third of the countries with which Peru has established trade agreements.



The Peruvian delegation comprises around 180 business owners and high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism, PromPerú, the Peruvian-German Chamber of Commerce, and the Association of Agricultural Producers Guilds of Peru.





Peruvian blueberry Photo: Courtesy of Mint















