The establishment of the Chilean Cherry Committee has been made official following the election of a board of directors.
Cristián Tagle of Agrícola San Francisco Lo Garcés, one of Chile’s leading cherry grower-exporters, has been appointed president of the association as of 20 August, according to a report by SimFRUIT.
The committee comprises 21 companies who combined represented 73 per cent of the 71,000 tonnes of cherries exported from Chile last year.
Board directors include Orieta Ramirez of Frusan, Jorge Tomicic of Chilfresh, Ricardo Koch of Río Blanco, and Alberto Navajas, managing director of Exportadora Rucaray.
The organisation will be also coordinated by Edmundo Araya from the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association (Asoex).
One of the committee’s first activities will be to participate at the Asia Fruit Logistica trade show in Hong Kong during early September with a stand in the Chile pavilion.
The Chilean Cherry Committee aims to define and administer promotional programmes for Chilean cherries in various international markets.
Other specific objectives include establishing priorities in relation to opening up new markets; to tackle matters related to phytosanitary aspects in the production process; and to define possible market studies.
