Chile’s second biggest fruit exporter, Unifrutti, plans to triple its cherry exports over the next three years from the current 600,000 (5kg) cartons to 1.8m cartons, according to a report by El Mercurio.
The company said it plans to achieve to goal by increasing its production capacity and modernising half of its production centres.
Already, the group has begun planting new varieties of cherries which are more resistant to long transit times and offer better sizes, colours and flavours, the report said.
Unifrutti has recently faced a number of challenges due to the low exchange rate coupled with increasing labour and energy costs.
Despite this difficult environment, the group recorded sales of around US$140m last season (2009/10) when fruit exports reached some 132,071 tonnes– up slightly on the 127,000 tonnes shipped during the 2008/09 season.
General manager Juan José Villasante and marketing director Germán Illanes said the company will invest close to US$12m in the expansion of its production capacity and modernisation of four of its eight processing facilities in Teno, Linderos, Requínoa and Copiapó.
?“We’re determined to reinvent ourselves in order to remain successful in this business,” Mr Illanes told El Mercurio.
“One solution is to produce more, and another is to be more efficient in the processes from harvesting to the disembarkment of the fruit. For that reason we are changing and investing in some of our facilities.
Chilean cherry exports are rising by 50 per cent annually, due, in part, to high demand from Asia.
Unifruitti said is also seeking to diversify its overall fruit portfolio.
