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Goldenberry (Uchuva) producers and distributors from Cundinamarca and Boyaca will now be able to export the exotic fruit to the United States without cold treatment, a benefit that will allow them to save on costs and time in a market that demands this Colombian product.
The US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced that it will become effective on June 2nd.
Before the announcement, Colombian entrepreneurs created the Goldenberry Exporters Committee under the National Association for Foreign Trade (Asociacion Nacional de Comercio Exterior, ANALDEX) with the support of PROCOLOMBIA and ICA in compliance with the unionizing requirement intended to create a counterpart in the country to oversee the compliance of import requirements, thus allowing the fruit to be more competitive in terms of cost and investment.
" A work plan was agreed among sanitary authorities from both countries to comply with the phytosanitary requirements to enter the country that also provided for the creation of such committee,&rdquo explained Carlos Lozano, Manager of the Goldenberry Exporters Committee.
The requirements provided that all farmland used in the production of the fruit must be registered before ICA, have surveillance and monitoring system for the Mediterranean fly, and be located in an area of low prevalence certified by ICA and APHIS as farmland free of pest.
ICA stated that a total of 85 municipalities in Cundinamarca and 111 in Boyaca located at 7,218 ft. above sea level will benefit from the established standard considering their location in low prevalence areas for pests. The monitoring and certification as pest-free farmlands will allow them to export this fruit without the cold treatment.
" We have eight export companies plus two more in the process of affiliation. We invite other companies that are interested in joining the Goldenberry Export Committee, however we have already affiliated most of the Goldenberry export companies,&rdquo noted Lozano.
Among other requirements imposed by APHIS, exporters must ensure good sanitary and care conditions during transport and at airports to prevent any potential contamination with the fly, and the use of traps around production and packing facilities.
" Institutional work and the entrepreneurial union are essential to facilitating the Goldenberry export process to a market that shows a consumer trend toward healthy foods and a preference for exotic flavors. In addition, the Goldenberry is recognized not only for its nutritional value, but also due to its different usages in the food industry,&rdquo stated the President of PROCOLOMBIA, Maria Claudia Lacouture.
Lacouture added that fresh fruit is not only being marketed in produce stores and large areas in the US, but that it is also being used in the preparation of different dishes as an ingredient either in sauces or as an enticing touch.
" Goldenberry exporters will not have to deal with phytosanitary requirements compelled by the cold treatment process and the economic and time costs that certainly have an impact on the value delivered to the final customer. This will enable us to be more competitive,&rdquo added Lacouture.
On the other hand, ANALDEX Executive President Javier Diaz-Molina stressed the importance of exporting Goldenberry with a phytosanitary process. " This program is a great accomplishment that ensures the lack of any sanitary risks.&rdquo He also noted the teamwork done by the entrepreneurs, which has been the key to success of this project. " This can set a precedent for many other fruits and vegetables and foods in general. This also shows that teamwork between the public and private sector can be accomplished to reach specific goals&rdquo .
