Peruvian flower growers block the transit of trucks loaded with fruit

Strawberry producers from Huashao in the province of Yungay, Ancash, have requested the Ministry of…

Strawberry producers from Huashao in the province of Yungay, Ancash, have requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation to send the Peruvian National Police to lift the illegal blockade that is taking place in the nearby town of Shillcop.

According to the producers of Huashao, the residents of Shillcop, who are mostly dedicated to the production of flowers, are impeding the passage of the trucks with strawberries as a form of protest, as they demand equality before the law during the coronavirus quarantine. According to the producers from Huashao, it is rather a demonstration of their selfishness and envy.

The residents of Shillcop believe that if the Government does not allow them to transport their flower cargoes, no other producer should be allowed to pass through their town towards Lima, even though the transport of food is guaranteed during the state of emergency, unlike the transport of ornamental flowers.

The roadblocks have affected fifty families dedicated to strawberry production in Huashao who could lose more than 6,000 kilograms of fruit per shipment, which is harvested twice a week and distributed in the various markets of the capital. Last Sunday, all the shipment was discarded along the road, as there was no way to give it away or transfer it by foot to Yungay.

The police from the Yungay Police Station appeared at the scene, but according to witnesses, they only asked the protestors and affected parties to settle things among themselves, despite the decree issued by the Government that allows the transit of food during the quarantine.

Producers from Ancash harvest and transport their strawberries in the early hours of the morning to prevent the sun from ruining them during their transfer to Lima. A new shipment was scheduled to depart on Tuesday, April 21, but producers complained they had no guarantees from the Police that the incident would not be repeated on Sunday.