Russia ships trial batch of peas to Venezuela

MOSCOW. Oct 10 (Interfax) - Russia has shipped a trial batch of peas to Venezuela, Russian plant and animal health watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor reported, citing statements made at a roundtable that was part of the business program at the Golden Autumn exhibition.

The shipment of 29,000 tonnes was dispatched in September, Rosselkhoznadzor's press service told Interfax.

A delegation from Venezuelan plant health institute visited Russia in September and looked at the country's system of oversight for exports of legume crops. The aim of the visit was to open the Venezuelan market to Russian pea exports.

The Venezuelan experts visited the labs of the Rostov and Moscow branches of the Grain Quality and Safety Assessment Center, as well as the National Plant Quarantine Center. They also viewed the loading of a vessel with grain bound for Venezuela at the Rostov port.

Russian grain market experts said there has been a significant increase in demand for peas from Russia on the world market recently.