Import of Mexican Guava Becomes Consolidated
Mar 03, 2010 07:33:46
Export of this fruit was limited to the U.S. market for 70 years. Representatives of the Mexican Guava Guild visited Los Angeles this week to promote the consolidation of exports of this fruit.
"Guava export started in November 2008, but it was only made with the production of Aguascalientes in a very short period, because it was the only state of the four which grew certified guava orchards and we were not prepared for a larger production period", said Rubén Martínez, a guava producer.
Currently, crops in Michoacán, Morelos and the State of Mexico have more certified orchards by the Department of Agriculture of USA (USDA), allowing six distributors to receive the fruit in this country every month.
Guava production in Mexico is in thirteenth place in terms of production volume of the main fruit species and the number 14th in terms of the value.
The USDA, working together with Mexican authorities and fruit growers, authorized the import of Mexican guava to the US market after 70 years of having been limited. The first shipment took place on November 20, 2008.
"The demand for fruit in the United States has gone well, all this [promotion] work has to help the consumer get to know the fruit and its availability here," said Martínez. "Unfortunately, initially it didn’t move as much as it should have moved", he added.
Monica Moreno, Coordinator of the promotion campaign, explained that for guava to enter the US market, the orchards must be certified by the USDA. "Also it must have safe packaging and certified by the exporters organization. Once that happens, the guava must go through a radiation quarantine process", said Moreno.
"A truck is loaded that goes to the irradiation plant. There, a United States inspector reviews that it complies with the process and then it’s shipped", she added. "All the guava shipments enter the US through the MacAllen, Texas border".
