Latest News From Chile

With robust supplies of Chilean grapes headed for the U.S., “it’s looking like mid-March through April will be a great time for retailers to promote Chilean grapes,” says Ignacio Caballero of Frutas de Chile.

Drought is a significant long-term challenge for Chilean fruit producers, but there has been some relief in the past year, a new USDA report on the country’s economic outlook says.

Chilean stone fruit growers and exporters believe that exports will reach 35.3 million boxes in 2023-24, an increase of 15% over last season.

Unifrutti said the move supports its strategy of building a globally diversified premium fruit platform, while complementing its product offering by adding a strong table grape and cherry platform.

The new report projects that Chilean lemon exports will rise 8.8%, with mandarin exports growing by 7.3%.

Organized by Yentzen Group in conjunction with the Cherry Fruit Committee of Chile (formerly ASOEX), the event will be held at the Monticello Events Center in Santiago, Chile.

The Chilean Cherry Committee, representing more than 85% of the volume of global Chilean cherry exports, has lowered its estimate of the 2023-24 crop and projected exports.

Favorable climatic conditions and abundant rainfall contributed to the bigger crop, according to a new USDA report.

“Climate change and the El Niño phenomenon are putting agriculture in Chile and the world to the test,” said Iván Marambio, president of Frutas de Chile.

With the 2023-24 Chilean table grape season starting in November, Chilean grape importers from across the U.S. are urgently requesting the U.S. authorities to accelerate the authorization of a systems approach.

Efforts are underway to ensure that Chilean-grown blueberries meet the same quality standards as U.S. blueberries, industry sources say.

It’s almost summer in the Southern Hemisphere, which means it’s time for Chilean fruit. Here's what to expect for commodities, quality and volume.

Chilean table grape production will jump by nearly 15% in the 2023-24 marketing year, a new report from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service says.

Led by newer varieties, Chilean table grape production for the 2023-24 season will grow 5%, according to an industry estimate.

Based on the most recent field projections, executives with Traverse City, Mich.-based North Bay Produce anticipate the peak of Chilean arrivals to be in early-mid January.

Representing a 7% decline from the October forecast, the Chilean Blueberry Committee of ASOEX  now forecasts exports of 76,500 tons of fresh blueberries in the 2023-24 season.

The Packer recently submitted questions about the upcoming Chilean blueberry season to Nader Musleh, director of International Business Development at California Giant Berry Farms.

Wish Farms expects Chilean blueberry volume for the 2023-24 season to be comparable to the previous season, says Nick Wishnatzki, public relations manager.

U.S. imports of Chilean blueberries totaled 45,982 metric tons in 2022, up from 42,458 metric tons in 2021 and up from 42,608 metric tons in 2020.

Chile is celebrating 20 years of free trade with the U.S.

Following the recent frosts and rains in Chile, the Citrus Committee of the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association (ASOEX) has revised its export projections for the 2023-24 season.

The Chilean Fruit Exporters Association is evaluating the effects of recent heavy rains to orchards and infrastructure in central and southern Chile.

Chilean mandarins are now available from Fowler, Calif.-based Bee Sweet Citrus.

All citrus varieties in Chile will witness greater production and exports in the 2022-23 season, a report says.

While the Chilean Kiwifruit Committee is projecting an overall decrease in volume compared with last season, fruit quality is expected to be superior.

Facing pressure from Peru in the U.S. market, Chilean grape exports to the U.S. market are projected to fall nearly 9% in the 2022-23 season.

The Citrus Committee of ASOEX has predicted 345,000 tons of citrus exports for the 2023 season, with U.S. markets remaining the top destination for shipments.

A delegation of Chilean representatives recently visited Immokalee, Fla., to meet with growers, buyers, farmworkers and U.S. government officials to discuss the possible expansion of the Fair Food Program in Chile.

The second annual South American Blueberry Convention will be held at the Monticello Conference Center in San Francisco de Mostazal, Chile, on April 18.

Wildfires in Chile during February caused extensive damage to agriculture but limited damage to fruit crops, according to a new report from the USDA.

Divine Favor International has developed a rich and profitable history with Chilean grape grower Santa Elena over many years of collaboration.

Companies increasingly look to fruits and vegetables grown in other countries that provide ideal growing conditions and a year-round supply of fresh produce.

The Table Grape Committee of ASOEX (Chilean Fruit Exporters Association) said Chilean grape exports in 2022-23 will total 555,483 tons, equivalent to 67.742 million (8.2kg) boxes, up 1.2% from the December estimate.

Chile's challenges with shipping, plus labor — sound familiar? — have put a dent in export volumes of fresh fruit, but key players are collaborating to resolve the issue using all sorts of strategies.

The table grape grower and marketer predicts significant growth in its Peruvian and Chilean imports in 2023.

After frost cut short the 2022 crop, Chilean citrus production and exports should bounce back in a big way in 2023, a new USDA report predicts.

After two decades of negotiations, Chile has reached the last mile in the authorization process of the systems approach for table grape exports to the North American market.

For about a decade, the Chilean grape industry has worked to increase its competitiveness by introducing new grape varieties, and that effort is paying off.

Chilean table grape production and exports may decline about 7% this year, according to the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service annual report on Chilean deciduous fruit.

Vancouver, B.C-based Oppy expects similar Chilean produce volume compared with last season, but there are volume shifts within categories, said Eric Coty, vice president of South American operations.

Cherry production and exports from Chile will increase this year, but growers there and in other Southern Hemisphere countries are facing new farm and market challenges, according to a new report from Rabobank.

Two large Chilean-based fruit exporters are combining efforts to maximize sales in China.

The USDA is proposing to offer Chilean grape exporters alternatives to fumigation to access the U.S. market.

Global export volume for Chilean fresh blueberries estimated at just under 100,000 for the 2022/23 winter season.

Naturipe’s Chilean blueberry season will run from October to April, says Jim Roberts, president of sales, and the company will offer strong volume most of that time.

With fresh production expectations similar to a year ago, Chilean blueberry production has begun in the northern regions and will progress through the south as the season advances.

Key players in Chile’s export and import sectors are working to identify effective solutions to the logistic issues that have slowed trade.

Reedley, Calif.-based Frutura has marked its first year of operation by finalizing the acquisition of the major Chilean fruit exporter, Subsole. 

Chilean fresh blueberry exporters have reached an agreement to implement a charter service to the U.S. market called the "Blueberry Express.”

A late May frost in Chilean citrus growing regions has diminished prospects for the 2022 citrus crop, the Chilean Citrus Committee reports.