Jorge Aranguri Danper

Danper's Jorge Aranguri

Danper has become to first Peruvian company to export fresh green asparagus to China, sending its first airflown consignment from Lima last week.

The company said in a press statement that having passed the rigorous audits by the National Service of Agrarian Health (SENASA) and China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) it carried out its first shipment last week.

“This shipment is the first of a scheduled programme we have established with the major players in the Chinese market, with Danper maintains a close relationship,” Danper said in a statement.

Peru received the green light for exports in May 2015 but it was not until recent weeks that AQSIQ inspectors completed their visits to production sites and packhouses to verify that they complied with the regulations set out under the import protocol.

Speaking recently to Fruitnet, founder and executive director Jorge Aranguri said China was an interesting market for all kinds of Peruvian fruits and vegetables.

“Last year saw the opening of the Chinese market for Hass avocados and there are high opes that shipment volumes will grow as consumption climbs,” he said. “Blueberries also have the potential to do well once the import protocol has been agreed.”

Trujillo-based Danper exported US$130m of fresh, canned and frozen fruits, vegetables and grains in 2015. The company has made significant investments in new production of crops including table grapes, blueberries in Olmos and La Libertad.