Peru’s table grape export industry expects to ship its first $100 million (£54m) crop in the 2008-09 season, as it continues on its exponential growth curve of the last decade.
In the last 10 years, Peru’s annual growth has fluctuated between 25 and 30 per cent a year.
The 1998-1999 campaign, which saw the first significant commercial shipments, saw 800 tonnes leave the South American country. By this year, exports had jumped to 38,000t, at a value of $76m. Some 4.5m boxes were sold in 40 markets around the world.
Early estimates, based on planted area and the weather to date in grape production areas, are that the next campaign, for which picking will begin in October, will see an additional 1m boxes in international markets, and the $100m mark passed for the first time.
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