DECEMBER, 2011

PERU LARGEST EXPORTER FRESH/CHILLED ASPARAGUS IN THE WORLD ...

During the last decade, exports of fresh asparagus or chilled ones from Peru grew at an annual average of 19%. During it's seminar the Foreign trade Society of Peru (ComexPeru) reported that the volume has grown 135, almost tripling between 2001 and 2010. While in 2008 exports fell 3% a year later, in 2009, the amount exported increased 10%.

The agency reported that between January and October 2011 the amount of asparagus exported rose only .39% with $225 million to the US, while the volume rose 2.6% with nearly 96,00 metric tons. The small increase presented so far this year is due to targeted sales to the US, it's main destination with 60% of the total, fell 3% the statement said.

Although it was reported that the fall was offset by a 13% increase in shipments to the United Kingdom, a nation that until October this year was the third commercial destination of asparagus with 8% of the total.
A significant growth in shipments to Canada was also experienced. In this case it was 222%, a figure that can only be explained by the North American Free trade Agreement (FTA) between two nations that took effect in 2009. Netherlands, Spain and Australia are other important destinations for asparagus.

Between January and October 2011 Peruvian asparagus has reach 41 destinations, with a presence in five continents.

The great advantage of Peru is that, due to favorable weather conditions  for the production of asparagus, it has relatively good levels of production during much of the year and supplies every month. So the summer- autumn period of the northern hemisphere is taken advantage of, when in Europe and North America production is reduced to meet the demand of the markets at better prices.

Peru is the second largest producer of asparagus, after China. China's export production is mostly canned and frozen, so Peru is the leading exporter of fresh/chilled asparagus. The US is the largest importer of asparagus and Peru's main supplier, with 55% of imports a year.

DECEMBER 2011

CALIFORNIA CITRUS FARMERS FACE ANOTHER COLD SPELL:

Possibly the coldest temperatures of the year- tonight through the weekend- cannot be welcomed news for area citrus growers who have been combating dangerously low temperatures nearly the entire month of December. A freeze watch is in effect for the next couple of nights with low's in the mid 20's expected. temperatures in citrus groves below 28 degrees for more than four hours can cause serious damage to the fruit. So far, most growers have escaped damaged as lows have been around 25 to 29 degrees, but higher in the groves where there is frost protection methods available. Growers said they can raise the temperature in a grove 2 to 4 degrees depending on conditions, by running water and wind machines, which most have been able to do so far this winter.

Typically, the last two weeks in December are the coldest nights of the year and it looks like 2011 will be no different. The predicted low for the Porterville area is 29 degrees for the weekend. It is expected to warm up a couple degrees at the beginning of next week. There are still conditions for potentially colder temps than predicted. Day time highs have been in the mid 50's.