China authorizes the entry of Uruguayan blueberries
The first fruit of the government's recent trip to China was captured yesterday when the communication came from the Chinese government with the authorization of the entry of blueberries from Uruguay to the Asian giant, confirmed official sources.
Through an electronic communication, the General Directorate of Phytosanitary Inspection of AQSIQ, the General Administration for the Supervision of Quality, Inspection and Quarantine of China, reported that it published the data of the plant authorized to export blueberries from Uruguay to the Asian giant.
With the publication, commercial operations between both countries can now be specified, the sources said. The authorized plant is Gamorel, the main producer and exporter of blueberries from Uruguay, located in the department of Salto.
In principle, the authorities of the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP) and the company Gamorel hoped to obtain authorization to place blueberries in China in full harvest, in order to send the fruit in the best conditions.
On the other hand, the president of the Union of Fruit and Vegetable Producers and Exporters of Uruguay (Upefruy), Carlos Fraschini, said last week that "We are trying to expedite the procedures so that (China) enables us before the end of this harvest and thus have fruit to send a sample and not lose a year".
However, sources in the sector said that "it is difficult" now to make a shipment of fruit to the Asian country when an adverse harvest for producers has practically come to an end due to the conjunction of a "record harvest, falling prices, falling dollar and rising costs (that) caused an economic equation that affects the outcome of the producer everywhere“Fraschini reviewed.
Blueberry growers lost"around 1,5 million kilos of blueberries worth 12 million dollars” in a record harvest at the regional level in which prices collapsed.
"Many producers decided to stop harvesting"because if they did"they lost money", as "production costs exceed the price that is being paid” for the fruit in the markets, since Uruguay exports 95% of what it produces, explained sources in the sector.
Now, with the news of the qualification of China, the prospects for the producers and exporters of blueberries gain new impulse, although it will be necessary to wait until August or September of the next year for the first shipments of the fruit.
At present, Uruguay has an area of 370 hectares dedicated to cranberry, mostly on the coast of the country, Salto and Paysandú. There are some 20 establishments that supply five export companies.
Source: Elobservador.com.uy
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