Chile’s first avocado campaign exporting to Australia has already seen almost 150 tons of Hass shipped across the Pacific. On August 4th, Chile became only the second country, after New Zealand, to be authorised to export fresh Hass avocados to the Australian market. Data published by ASOEX (Association of Fruit Exporters), Chile has sent 148 tons of Hass avocados to Australia since Chile’s export season began on September 1st. Australians are among the world’s largest consumers of avocado, consuming 3.8 kilos per capita each year.

With South Korea’s domestic production of grapes falling, the country is relying ever more on imports. This opens up opportunities for the world’s major producers, especially Chile, with whom South Korea signed a Free Trade Agreement in 2004. Despite government efforts to protect the domestic grape industry by imposing higher tariffs, the share of imported grapes continues to rise. Chile, which benefitted from its early FTA access, has the highest market share. However, US grape imports have also been on the rise since South Korea removed its off-season tariffs in 2016.

© Eurofresh Distribution

A major fraud in the world of raspberries is laid bare in a report by Reuters. In January 2017, Chilean customs inspectors acted on a tip from a whistleblower that the country's prized crop of raspberries was under threat. Inspectors raided the offices of Frutti di Bosco, a little-known fruit trading company on the second floor of a tower block in downtown Santiago. The files, company data and sales records they seized revealed a food trading racket that spanned three continents.

The Chilean Blueberry Committee forecasts stable export volumes in 2020-21 despite the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The CBC is working to diversify its export markets, given the current overdependence on the US and China. Although shipments fell to Chile’s main market, the US (-13%), exports to Asia and Europe were up 20% and 8% respectively. 

The Southern Hemisphere exported 1.315 billion tons of grapes in the 2019/20 marketing year. Even though the Southern Hemisphere 2019-20 grape campaign was hit by the effects of the pandemic, by adapting rapidly, export levels remained fairly stable. Patented varieties are making significant progress compared to classic varieties. Peru's growth continues, while Chile’s crop was smaller due to adverse weather, political and commercial conditions.

As China’s economy begins to recover, Chilean fruit exporters breathe a sigh of relief.  At a virtual conference organised by Fedefruta on Wednesday, Chile’s ambassador to China, Luis Schmidt, said that Chilean fruit exports had increased in recent months, as China gets back onto its feet after the Covid-19 pandemic. At the same time, Chile has been intensifying its efforts to comply with China’s demanding phytosanitary regulations. 

PRESS RELEASE

A company Chile has developed award-winning technology that can provide significant savings on water and energy consumption.

Santiago, Chile - Sept. 10, 2020 – Hydroscada offers integrated solutions to large agricultural operations, allowing them to see in real-time exactly how much water is being used throughout their farms and facilities, and to make improvements and increased efficiencies where possible.

© Réussir Fruits et Légumes

José Villagrán, president of the Federacion de Camioneros del Sur (Fedesur) /// © MULTIGREMIAL DE LA ARAUCANÍA

© ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA

The first Chilean oranges have entered China, where they were welcomed with a ceremony at Jiaxing Haiguangxing Market, which has close ties with the Chilean Export Association. Chile, the Southern Hemisphere’s second-largest orange producer, exports about 18 million tons between May and November each year. Chilean oranges and lemons have a great price-quality ratio in comparison with oranges and lemons from other countries and require no refrigeration.