Peru has become the largest mandarin producer in Latin America according to ProCitrus CEO Sergio Del Castillo, reports Fresh Plaza .
Peru has succeeded in becoming the largest producer of mandarins, beating Argentina for the win.
The ProCitrus CEO said that Peru’s production last year amounted to 351,000 tons. The major mandarin producing regions that contributed the highest yields included Huaral and Cañete of Lima, followed by Ica and Junin.
“In recent years, the country’s annual production has grown by 5%. Of the total produced, 75% goes to the domestic market; however, per capita consumption is still low,” said del Castillo.
FreshPlaza reports that Latin America’s per capita consumption reaches 20 kilos per year, while Peru’s stands at 10 kilos per year.
“Mandarins will grow the most, because the crops planted five years ago are now becoming more productive. Mandarin trees reach their full maturity after seven years, so production will only continue to increase,” the CEO predicted to Agraria earlier this year.
The main destinations for Peruvian mandarins include the United States, the UK, the Netherlands, Canada, and Russia, among others.