Belize set to export fruits and vegetables to El Salvador after approval of pest risk analysis.

Belize will soon be exporting fruits and vegetables to El Salvador. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, made the announcement today saying that efforts are underway for the exportation of carrots, citrus, onion and pineapples. El Salvador has reached out to the Belize Marketing and Development Corporation (BMDC) to say that the application for a pest risk analysis (PRA) for these four items has been approved. The PRA is the first step in the process to begin exportation. Efforts to reach this stage of the process began back in early 2022, by Minister of Agriculture Jose Abelardo Mai. Mai had taken three farmers from different agriculture communities along with samples of 10 Belizean-grown commodities to El Salvador to begin negotiations. In its announcement the Ministry of Agriculture said, quote, “The opening of another export market for Belizean products is a major step forward for farmers and the entire Belizean economy. Negotiations with Mexico and Guatemala, our northern and western neighbours, continue to ensure markets for Belizean products are assured through diplomacy and bilateral agreements as promised in Plan Belize,” End of quote.