Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Food | June 24, 2011 [ 11:31 ]

Peru’s achiote exports make their mark

Andina

Peru’s exports of a fruit used for food coloring have risen 22 percent year-on-year during the first four months of 2011.

Peru’s Association of Exporters (ADEX) said exports of achiote reached $4.9 million.

ADEX agricultural manager Beatriz Tubino said the demand was driven by the fruit’s content of bixin in its seeds, which is used to make coloring for food products including ice cream, margarine, butter, meat, bread, cheese, yogurt, pasta and noodles.

“The world’s main producer of achiote seeds is Brazil, which last year produced 7,500 (metric) tons, followed by Peru with 4,800 (metric) tons, Kenya with 3,500 (metric) tons and Central Africa with 4,000 (metric) tons,” she was quoted as saying on freshfruitportal.com.

She said the U.S. bought $1.6 million worth of achiote from Peru in the first four months of the year, followed by Venezuela and Egypt with $639,192 and $493,437 respectively, the story reported. There was a total of 42 destinations including Mexico, Ecuador, the U.K., the Netherlands, Germany and Japan.

Pablo Trelles, director of the country’s largest achiote exporter Biocon del Peru, said production in 2011 would likely be 4,900 metric tons.

Achiote is sold in three ways; as a dye, seeds or seed powder.

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