Fresh Bell Peppers for the export market Peru has an excellent climate to grow Peppers and due to geographic conditions it can produce all year round, including during the periods in which production in Europe is significantly reduced. This presents an interesting business opportunity as, with limited supply, prices increase more than enough to compensate for the additional cost for (sea) freight from Peru. Despite these ideal conditions, Peru exports no fresh peppers, that only find their way out of the country as conserves in cans or frozen.Hillfresh International B.V., a trader in fresh fruit & vegetables from Barendrecht, and Grandules Inc S.A.C., a producer and exporter of pepper conserves and fruit from Chiclayo, intend to form a joint venture to produce and export fresh Bell Peppers to Europe. Partners will set up a pilot farm in San Pedro, Lambayeque, 700 km north of Lima. A packing plant will be built to select and pack the fresh peppers that will be loaded in Reefer Containers for an eighteen-day trip to Rotterdam.The project will create 164 direct jobs and open a new front in the strong upcoming agribusiness export from Peru.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)Local partner has a very professional Human Resources Department. They have 1,300 permanent employees, and another 2,700 temporary staff during harvest peaks. They are by far the largest employer in the Chiclayo region, and have an excellent reputation, regarding employee benefits. The joint venture will apply the same CSR policy.All staff has social security, retirement plans and profit participation. All staff also receives continuous training and has life insurance. The average daily income at Gandules is USD 18 (against average USD 7 in the region). Because of the stability associated with a job at Gandules, local banks are prepared to extend financing to employees, who are able to finance the purchase of an own house (Gandules has agreements with banks). The company also organises regular medical campaigns to attend all employees plus family members, on subjects like dental health, ophthalmology and vaccination campaigns.The company has a special programme for reintegration of handicapped and elderly people (with suitable jobs), as well as a "gang prevention programme", providing opportunities to young people in the community exposed to gangs in the area (meanwhile 77 juveniles in the "risk group" have received training and a job at the company).Impact•	Employment and working conditionsThe project will create 164 direct jobs (81 at the cultivation fields and 83 at the packing plant, including administration), and this will grow to 276 in two years. Compensation will be according to the job, with lowest paid workers receiving at least 225 euro per month, or 50% above the legal minimum wage (NSol 600, or 150 euro per month).All employees will have free first medical attention, free transport from and towards the work place, as well as all legal benefits, including health insurance and retirement fund contribution.•	Innovation/Transfer of knowledgeThe cultivation and processing technology for the production of Class I fresh Bell Peppers, with all severe quality requirements of the European markets, is new for Peru and will build on the existing know how developed in the conserves industry.•	Chain effectsLocal partner has traditionally played a model role and influenced the communities where it operates. The same is expected with the new joint venture. It will generate economic activities in transport and packaging materials, as well as diverse other support services. Finally, the 164 employees will inject a considerable amount of money in the local commerce.•	EnvironmentThe proposed location of the project, San Pedro, is an area which experiences problems of desert forming. The cultivation of peppers, which will require the placing of wind shields, will help stop the process and even 'regain' land. The extensive use of drip irrigation ensures minimum use of water.•	Position of womenWithin Gandules, 65% of the workers are female. The joint venture will also have at least 60% of women. Gandules has shown to also open higher (engineering) positions for women, and will apply the same policy for the joint venture. To set up a Bell Pepper export chain, based on a production farm and processing/packing plant.