Ecuador increases exports of goldenberries to the UK and Europe

PRO ECUADOR, the Trade Office of Ecuador in the United Kingdom, announced its objective to increase exports of Ecuadorian goldenberries (physalis) to the UK and Europe, and actively looking for potential new customers throughout the UK.

Goldenberry is a bright orange Andean fruit that is exotic by nature. According to independent research, this berry considered a super fruit due to its high content of antioxidants, vitamins A, B and C, zinc, calcium, potassium, iron and fiber.

Juan Carlos Yépez Franco, Trade Commissioner of Ecuador for the PRO ECUADOR Trade Office in London, said: “In the last three years, Ecuador has exported US$87.1 million-worth of exotic fruit to the EU. Of that total, exports of fresh and dried goldenberries accounted for US$2.2m, including US$500,000 of dried fruit supplied to the UK.”

Despite of difficult pandemic times Ecuador and the UK have found ways to strengthen their bilateral trade. Ecuador’s fruit exports grew 22 percent in value from January to May 2020. Moreover, this year, the Ecuadorian National Assembly and President Lenin Moreno ratified a trade agreement between Ecuador, Colombia and Peru with the UK, which guarantees trade continuity between Ecuador and the UK.

“We see considerable potential in the UK, as well as opportunities across the EU, for both fresh and dried goldenberries from our country. Between May and July this year, PRO ECUADOR hosted five virtual B2B business events, during which 26 UK buyers expressed their intention to purchase over US$1.5m-worth of Ecuadorian fruit,” added Juan Carlos.

Dennis Brito Madrid, Director of Ecuador’s Non-Traditional Fruit Growers’ Association and General Manager of Golden Sweet Spirit (one of the leading goldenberry suppliers) shared that they are so convinced that goldenberries can do well in the berry category that they are going to The Global Berry Congress 2020 to give this berry a well-deserved make-over.

PRO ECUADOR is part of the Vice Ministry of Export and Investment Promotion at the Ecuadorian Ministry for Production, International Trade, Investment and Fishery. PRO ECUADOR is the promotional arm for exports and investment in Ecuador, and has a wide network of trade offices worldwide.

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