Peru in step with sustainability measures, sources say

Where sustainability measures are concerned, Peru is staying with the U.S. stride for stride, according to suppliers. Some say Peru might even be ahead of the U.S. in some ways.

"They're actually probably ahead of us in water conservation," said Barry Rogers, president of Grant, Fla.-based Sweet Onion Trading Corp.

The desert climate with which Peruvian onion growers have to contend likely has something to do with that, Rogers said.

"Most businesses move slowly when it doesn't behoove them to move quickly on water protocols; down there, they're doing something about it," he said.

Growers employ the newest irrigation measures, designed to squeeze the most benefit from the least amount of water, Rogers said.

"Just about every onion is grown on drip and many drip units are operated on heat sensors, so they're really dialed in on water conservation," he said.

The climate also offers some advantages, in terms of sustainable practices, Rogers noted.

"They don't have a real bad problem with pests down there, so I think you've got guys trying to move chemicals around the world because it made sense," he said.

Growers also rotate crops to keep the soil vital, Rogers said.

"Their onion industry is probably 20 years old and it takes time for them to mature, so they didn't probably know or had taken the time to do research on what other crops they could grow to help their next onion crops, and now they're taking time to do that," he said.

Sustainability initiatives in Peru match those in the U.S., said Walt Dasher, co-owner of Glennville, Ga.-based G&R Farms.

"We have sustainable initiatives in place in both Peru and here in Georgia," he said.

Keyperu SA, a branch of Greencastle, Pa.-based Keystone Fruit Marketing Inc., has earned Rainforest Alliance Certification, meeting requirements of the Sustainable Agriculture Network standard for production of onions, which promote such basic concepts as conservation and social well-being, said Marty Kamer, president of Keystone Fruit Marketing.

"As leaders in the sweet onion industry, we've worked very hard over the years to be environmentally friendly and socially responsible wherever we grow," he said.

The Peru onion operations of Reidsville, Ga.-based Shuman Produce Inc. practice sustainability in all phases of production, said John Shuman, president/sales director.

"RealSweet Peruvian onions are all GAP (Good Agricultural Practices)-certified, and any pesticide use must meet both USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) and Peruvian government standards," he said. "These onions are also Primus GFS-certified and completely traceable back to the field in which they were grown. "

Shuman also uses drip irrigation in all of its fields in Peru, he said.

"Shuman Produce's Peruvian facilities boast high standards of cleanliness, hygiene and food safety," he said. "The workforce employed in Peru by Shuman Produce is well educated and skilled in the trade."

Delbert Bland, owner of Glennville-based Bland Farms LLC, noted that "a lot of work has been done" in Peru over the last decade in the area of sustainability.

He noted that Peru's governmental standards are numerous and stringent.

"That's one reason we're doing the growing ourselves; we want to make sure we're meeting all the safety requirements," said Bland, whose company grows onions on about 2,000 acres in two Peruvian regions, Ica and Arequipa.

A rigorous sustainability program is central to doing business in Peru, said Mark Breimeister, sales director with Savannah, Ga.-based Triple A Produce and Oso Sweet Onion Co.

"I think that's typically the plan anywhere in the world where you grow nowadays," he said.