The Chilean Exporters Association (Asoex) has formally announced the establishment of the Chilean Cherry Committee during the first cherry seminar held in the capital Santiago, according to a report by SimFRUIT.
Asoex chairman Ronald Bown said cherries represent 6.8 per cent of Chile’s total fruit exports or 2.5m tonnes, adding that there is an important vision of growth in the country’s fruit industry which needs to be guided.
The Committee will take on this role of steering the Chilean cherry sector in terms of anticipating changing market patterns, demand and requirements.
During the seminar, Manuel José Alcaíno, president of Decofrut, gave a forecast of this season’s crop, while André Lutejin, general manager of Chilfresh, highlighted the opportunities for Chilean cherries in Asian markets such as China, Taiwan and Japan.
Additionally, Oscar Carrasco, a teacher at the University of Chile’s Agricultural Production Department, spoke in detail about how to produce high quality cherries.
The Brazilian Fruit Institute’s (Ibraf) Cloves Ribeiro also gave a presentation about the opportunities for Chilean cherries in Brazil in terms of the market’s trends and expectations.
