"Chile is one of the world's largest exporters of fresh fruit, with an outstanding position in the Southern Hemisphere. Its portfolio includes table grapes, apples, cherries, plums, kiwis and blueberries. Chile's weather allows it to produce quality fruit with a good color and flavor. This natural advantage has contributed to the country's positioning in international markets, although gaining access to these markets has not been free of difficulties," says Iván Marambio, president of Frutas de Chile.
Chilean fruit exports are distributed between Asia (30%), North America (30%), Europe (20%) and Latin America (20%). However, the distance to key markets such as China represents a challenge. "China is a priority destination, but transport times can have an impact on the quality of the products," says Marambio.
In order to shorten those shipping times, solutions have been developed such as the Cherry Express, which transports cherries in 21 days instead of the usual 30. Still, incidents such as the recent crisis involving a stranded cargo ship, which affected 1,300 containers of fruit, reflect the sector's vulnerability. "It is a complex situation that affects many producers. Uncertainty about insurance coverage and possible compensations puts extra pressure on exporters, who depend on such mechanisms to mitigate losses and maintain the sector's financial stability," says Marambio.
Prolonged drought has forced producers to implement water efficiency measures. "Responsible water use is essential, along with techniques to protect crops from frost and heat waves," says Marambio.
Another crucial aspect is the improvement of packing and fruit selection processes to guarantee homogenous quality. "Advanced technology has been implemented to ensure that each box of cherries meets international standards," he says.
The fruit sector makes a significant contribution to the local economy. According to estimates, it represents between 2% and 3% of the country's GDP. "The opening up of new markets and commercial stability will be determining factors for the sector's growth," says Marambio.
In terms of consumption trends, there's a growing demand for sweeter and crunchier varieties. Moreover, fruit waste is minimal.
Frutas de Chile, which brings together more than 300 companies and has 90 years of experience, continues to seek strategies to strengthen the presence of exports in key markets and face the industry's challenges. "The key challenge is to continue to ensure that the fruit reaches consumers in optimum conditions," says Marambio.
For more information:
Iván Marambio
Frutas de Chile
Cruz del Sur 133, piso 2
Las Condes, Santiago, Chile
Tel.: +56 9 9991 5564 / +56 2 2472 4701
imarambio@frutasdechile.cl
www.frutasdechile.cl