Andina

Peru food industry consolidated in U.S. West Coast

00:52 | Los Angeles (U.S.), Sep. 13.

The Peruvian food industry has consolidated its position in the U.S. West Coast, as the outcome of 10-year-long efforts undertaken by Peru's Trade Office in Los Angeles, Foreign Trade and Tourism Ministry (Mincetur) informed.

OCEX Los Angeles was created in 2008 and has 13 States under its jurisdiction, including: California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Nuevo Mexico, Colorado, and Alaska.

This whole region represents 49.3% of the United States' total territory, and approximately 78.1 million people live in this area. 

According to OCEX Los Angeles Advisor Ricardo Romero, Peru's positioning in the North American market was underpinned by a campaign aimed at informing Inca companies about the importance of the West Coast's market.

"We show the economic and trade potentials of the United States' West Coast to Peruvian entrepreneurs (…)," Romero expressed. 

The Inca country's food industry growth in the North American market was driven by OCEX Los Angeles' aggressive promotion campaign in the commercial chain, as well as diverse trade missions in Peru and the United States. 

Trade missions linked to advertising specialty coffees, frozen fruits, and vegetables —especially the ones under the Superfoods Peru brand— stood out in North America.

Demanded products 

The most demanded products in the U.S. West Coast are avocados, blueberries, grapes, citrus fruits, onions, mangoes, and fresh organic bananas. 

Concerning processed products, artichokes and piquillo peppers are demanded as well. In the case of seafood, dolphinfish, scallops, and shrimps stood out. 

Despite the worldwide financial crisis, non-traditional exports to the U.S. West Coast increased continuously, rising from US$299 million in 2007 to US$672 million in 2017, a 124.6% growth.

(END) RGP/DTK/MVB

Published: 9/13/2018