Chile is bracing itself for larger pear and table grape crops this year after favourable weather conditions during the winter and early spring months, according to a new report by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
However, the country's apple crop is expected to fall in quantity and quality after the effects of alternate bearing following last year's bumper crop, as well as higher spring and summer temperatures across most production areas.
As a result of the lower apple yield, exports are expected to come in lower than last year's total of 770,708 tonnes, the majority of which went to the Netherlands, Colombia and Saudi Arabia.
The higher temperatures that have hit apple volumes have had little affect on pear production, according to the USDA, with higher yields forecast to lead to export growth from last year's 133,088 tonnes.
Similarly, table grape output is expected to increase during 2009/10 thanks to an absence of frosts and good temperatures, pushing exports past the 836,885 tonnes achieved last year.
