There has been a new incident that has fuelled the controversy revolving around the entrance of Peruvian avocados to Chile. An analysis conducted by the laboratory of the University of Chile detected the sunblotch virus in some Peruvian avocado that had been imported to the country.
Experts analysed two lots of avocado from a supermarket in the Chilean capital. The researchers took samples from 24 fruits and found that three of them were contaminated by the viroid.
Gonzalo Bulnes, chairman of the Chilean Hass Avocado Committee, referred to this finding and spoke about the avocado industry's current situation.
"We asked that researchers take samples from a supermarket as soon as the Peruvian avocados began entering country and we sent them to the University of Chile through a notary to forestall the people's doubts and suspicion, so no one could say we interfered with the process," he added.
Furthermore, Bulnes expressed his concern about the work that the Chilean authorities are carrying out to protect national avocado crops. "Well, I'm left with uncertainty regarding the work of the Agriculture and Livestock Service (SAG). My assessment is that the Chilean avocado industry is slowly being destroyed by the State's actions and omissions," he added.
In this regard, Bulnes said the omissions he spoke about were the "reservoirs and irrigation works that have forced the avocado industry to uproot more than 20% of the Hass avocado area in the country. And besides, we are entering a more difficult year because of the drought and the State hasn't done anything."
"There's been a lot of talk, but not a lot of walk. The State has failed this industry," he said. And then, he said, "there are actions such as that taken by the SAG, which allowed the entry of Peruvian avocado without the corresponding restrictions, and that will end up destroying the Chilean avocado industry."
Bulnes said consumers would be affected by these facts in the future. "I hope that the people, that have become used to eating avocado in Chile, won't blame producers when they have to pay CLP $4,000 per kilo of avocado," he said.
It should be noted that the Hass avocado Committee made an appeal on the ruling of Santiago's Court of Appeals of Santiago, which rejected the appeal for protection against the decision by the SAG to allow Peruvian imports of avocado, and that this recent analysis of the University of Chile would be added to the legal process.
"We will deliver this analysis to our lawyers and they will study the actions to follow," he said. "We have responsibly taken all actions to defend the avocado industry and we will continue to do so. Unfortunately, we have not found an echo from the State of Chile, the previous government or, unfortunately, this one, "he added.
"We expect the courts correct this because the Court of Appeals, as part of the State of Chile, didn't do it," he said.
Source: Fresh Fruit Portal