LIMA, PERU – From January through May of this year, exports of fresh blueberries from Peru totaled $5.3 million, which is an increase of 428.4% over last year.

This percentage is based on numbers from the Peruvian Agricultural Producers Guild Association (AGAP).  Andina, a Peruvian news source, reports that exports from January through May last year totaled $1 million.  This means that the exports this year quintupled both in value and in weight.

This is a very good sign because Peruvian blueberry exports for 2013 were at $17.4 million, which was significantly over the approximately $1 million in exports for 2012.

Aside from the huge increases in blueberries, other products have been increasing in the Peruvian export market from January through May as well.  Andina reports that watermelons are up 121%, strawberries up 147%, melons up 151%, figs up 151% and passion fruit up 64%.

Peru's total fruit export achieved a growth of 51.6%, up from $374 million to $567 million, according to numbers from AGAP.

In recent months, fresh grapes from Peru have seen a 78.8% increase, avocados increased 48.3% and mangos increased 26.8% over 2013.