“We’re looking for customers,” said Piet-Hein Briet, in sales and marketing for Sociedad Agraria Estanislao del Chimu. “This show is very successful. I went to Hong Kong for Asia Fruit Logistica (Sept. 4-6), but just having a small stand here, it’s been more successful, with more contacts.”
His company is in its second year of exporting grapes to the U.S. (shipments began the week of Sept. 24) and will ship its first avocados when the export season starts in March.
Moises Huerta, commercial specialist with the Embassy of Peru in Washington, D.C., said his agency invited U.S. importers to the expo, including Unifrutti’s Economou.
“This is the biggest food show in Latin America,” Huerta said. “Peruvian exports have grown as a whole and the U.S. is certainly a very important market."
U.S. buyers included Criss Ramirez, sourcing manager for San Antonio-based retailer H-E-B’s global sourcing department, who was scouting for “jarred” processed fruit and vegetable products. She, too, had a positive experience at the expo, making contacts with potential suppliers.
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