Live from Macfrut: Export difficulties due to political restrictions

On the first day of Macfrut, overseas visitors were already on the showfloor. The Fructidor team has welcomed a large number of them and among them Mr Jesus Aular, president of the Venezuelan association: "SOVEFRU"

SOVEFRU is melting 180 producing companies members.

In Venezuela, the main production is bananas and plantains with for each a cultivated area of 40.000 hectares.
Oranges come in 3rd position with 30.000 hectares.
Then:
pinapples: 15.000 hectares
papayas: 10.000
mangoes: 5.000
avocadoes: 5.000
peaches & nectarines: 2.500 ha cultivated on the high lands, between 1.200 m and 2.500m high
and also tropical fruits for 4.000 ha.

The main customers for Venezuelan production is Europe and then USA.

As explained by President Jesus Aular:

"the situation is difficult in those days, because of the political situation. There has been a lot of government restrictions. It is difficult to export !
Many bananas companies , like Dole or Chiquita have changed their policy in Venezuela, some left the country. As a result, a lot of bananas farmers produce for national customers."

President Aular adds: " We do hope that in the near future, we can export again. The country offers a very good environment to grow quality produce !"