A successful campaign is expected for Peruvian watermelon

Producers from Tacna, Peru, forecast a good season for their watermelon exports after Senasa certified 11.149 tons of the fruit which then were destined for commercialization in the Chilean market.

According to Senasa, the watermelon for export comes from 241 verified production sites in the Valle Cinto and Magollo areas, as well as in the districts of Calana and La Yarada los Palos.

For the certification of producing areas for export purposes, farmers must carry out Integrated Pest Management (IPM) at their farms, and implement the technical aspects required to keep their farms in adequate conditions.

After the certification of the place of production, the watermelon is transferred to the packing plant, where Senasa verifies the shipments to exclude the presence of quarantine pests such as Diaphania hyalinata and Anastrepha grandis, as well as fungi, dust, soil and other pollutants.

The watermelon export campaign continues from September to March. Tacna is the main exporting region of cucurbits in Peru.