VALUE ADDED

The availability of adequate processing infrastructure, facilities and technology necessary to maintain and / or ripen the fruit, saving some of the problems of storage of fresh fruit and ensure the distribution of a product of higher quality and more valuable.But one of the main solutions proposed Cautín cherimoya is to incorporate agribusiness, ie add value to raw fruit, through the development of products that deliver better value to users with the same quality of taste and durability.In this matter is handled as frozen custard production of pulp, which is trading just in the local market. Bar is a concentrated, long durability, pastry, desserts and drinks. Other products under study are custard apple juice and even a liquor, which is already produced experimentally in the Faculty of Agronomy, UCV.There are 19 regions to produce cherimoya in Peru. In the 2003 campaign there were 13,680 t. The main producing regions were Lima (36.3%), Cajamarca (25.9%), Piura 8.9%), Junín (4.8%) and Apurimac (4.7%). In Lima, the largest producing area is Cumbe in the province of Huarochiri. which is a town located an hour and a half of Chosica, in the province of Huarochiri. Its main economic activity is the production of cherimoya. The call-cumbe cherimoya is renowned for the quality of its flesh and for its good taste. A Proexpansión research indicates that of the 13,680 tons of custard apples produced in 2003 only 1% was for export. The other 99% is consumed in the domestic marketFactors that may facilitate the commercial development of cherimoya are: The existence, at times, of large ethnic populations familiar with their characteristics, in many regions of the western world The increasing mobility of potential consumers, as tourism in exotic locations helps to familiarize them with products that were previously unknown; The possibility that the custard can be attractive to the general population as an ethnic or exotic specialty product: The existence of entrepreneurial producers and wholesalers and retail potential growing areas and in places where they are consumers or near Efforts can be made to select improved varieties basic and applied research at different levels (private and public) and countries The low cost of production factors (land, inputs and labor) that gives Latin America a comparative advantage over other places.A great difficulty in getting a specialty crop stems from the fact that even if you have a good acceptance among consumers, it may take several years until sales cover the initial cost of product development. The private sector doubt the advisability of investing in research and development of new crops, which need long-term and high risk behavior, and adapters and users wait until the benefits and potential margins are more obvious and less before investing in risky new crops (Jolliff, 1996). Therefore, new crops that could be viable, such as cherimoya, have not developed to the level of profitability for the private sector. Therefore, governments should fund programs to improve crops, with respect to the selection and breeding, and encourage universities and scientists to cooperate with the private sector.Considering, in particular, that the opportunity costs of land and labor are reduced, there is diverse plant genetic material for improving and developing new varieties, and are available scientific knowledge and appropriate technology, it is possible, nevertheless make the custard to become a strong revenue generator product. According Jollif (1996), loss of revenue opportunities caused by the lack of development of new crops not only has serious economic consequences for farmers and rural areas, it is extremely burdensome for taxpayers, especially when all the basic conditions needed to develop the crop. Therefore, the public sector, international donor agencies and NGOs should join forces and invest funds to promote the cultivation of the cherimoya.

Leading importers of Peruvian cherimoya WORLDWIDE