Last week, Chinese Customs inspectors visited Chile. They toured packing facilities and stone fruit orchards in the Metropolitan, Valparaiso, and O'Higgins regions with representatives of the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) and Fruit of Chile. The visit follows the signing of the protocol authorizing the entry of Chilean peaches and damasks into the Chinese market, which took place in October in Beijing.
According to Miguel Canala-Echeverria, general manager of Frutas de Chile, if everything is in order after the inspection visit -a normal step within the phytosanitary protocols established by Chile with China- they would be able to confirm the start of exports in the coming weeks.
"With this opening, Chile positions itself as one of the few countries in the world to have all its fresh fruits approved to enter the Chinese market. It's a very important accomplishment. It reflects the close relations of friendship and bilateral trade between both countries. It's also a testament to the commitment and hard work of the Chilean export fruit industry and SAG authorities to comply with each of the protocols, which has allowed our country to become China's main supplier of temperate climate fresh fruits."
Finally, Canala-EcheverrÃa said that the country had exported 119,000 tons of stone fruits (84,451 tons of plums -mainly sweet plums and D'Agen- and 34,674 tons of nectarines) to China during the 2022-2023 season. "We believe that our damasks and peaches will be able to capitalize on this success, which, of course, will have to be enhanced with promotional actions so the public gets to know their characteristics and when they are available," he said.
Source: simfruit.cl