Peru: Ambitious projects at Camposol

Peruvian farming enterprise Camposol has ambitious plans lined up for the next three years.                 Through a total investment volume of 250 million, they plan to diversify and extend the crops they currently grow, including, in order of importance: avocado, asparagus, grapes, blueberries, mangoes, artichokes, peppers, citruses and pomegranates. The firm is channelling 150 million dollars into the region’s most ambitious blueberry product ever, while the rest will be invested in maintenance and extending the company’s traditional plantations. Among these latest projects the most notable are for grape, citruses and asparagus. Camposol currently has 400 ha of Red Globe grape, the most important seeded variety in Peru. 200 new hectares will be sown with seedless grape. For their citrus farming operation, the mandarin groves will be increased from 100 to 500 ha. A significant renewal of asparagus fields is also lined up to replace part of the 2000 ha which are now more than 7-8 years old.  But without a doubt their greatest gambit will be the berry operation. “We opted for blueberry because Peru has a production window from September to October which is not sufficiently serviced by producer countries at the moment”, assures Commercial Manager José Antonio Gómez Bazán. “So far we have planted out 200 ha in Chavimochic / La Libertad, and hope to reach 2,000 hectares in the next three years. To achieve this target, we will be sowing 500 new hectares in 2014, 650 in 2015 and another 650 in 2016.”  The project aims to export 30,000 tons of blueberries annually, which is twice the amount currently produced by Argentina and Uruguay together. So far, the blueberry crops are very young: Between 1 and 2 years old. “Whereas last year we exported 1000 tons, we are set to double this figure in 2014. By 2015 we’ll be in full production with 5,000 tons, which will triple in 2016, and we shall continue to grow until by 2020, when we expect to reach the maximum volume anticipated”, he adds. The main markets for their fruit are the USA, the UK, Germany and the Nordic countries. Additionally, Camposol is planning regular blueberry shipments to Hong Kong and China, while exploring new cool treatment technologies with this in mind. The main challenge is labour, as developing the new plantations will mean increasing the stable workforce from 14,000 to 25,000. To this end, Camposol is creating a new residential project in Trujillo with quality housing for the workers. The company’s aim is to provide steady work for the region’s population while furthering the social development and infrastructure of the local community, in line with the corporate strategy of social responsibility.