Industry obtains approval to export to Mexico under a Systems Approach
Chilean kiwifruit can now be exported to Mexico under a Systems Approach, removing the need to fumigate the fruit. The move follows the approval of the pilot plan after a meeting between the Agricultural and Livestock Service (Sag), Frutas de Chile, Mexico’s agriculture secretary, Julio Berdegué, and representatives from national plant health authority Senasica.
Marco Muñoz, acting head of Sag’s Agricultural, Forestry, and Seed Protection Division, said the decision follows positive results of the Systems Approach in other crops such as citrus, stonefruit, and table grapes.
Miguel Canala-Echeverría, general manager of Frutas de Chile, commented: “Our relationship with Mexico has always been positive, as we produce in their off-season, which means that exports complement the local supply. Furthermore, Mexico is a very attractive market for fresh fruit consumption, as its inhabitants consume around 44.6kg of fruit per capita annually”.
The main fresh fruits Chile exports to Mexico are table grapes (36 per cent of total shipments), kiwifruit (16 per cent), nectarines (14 per cent), peaches (13 per cent), plums (9 per cent), and apples (5 per cent).
“Our exports to Mexico have been increasing. In the 2019/20 season, we shipped 3.5mn cartons of fresh fruit, while in the 2023/24 season, we shipped 4.5mn, representing a 13 per cent increase. This shows that there is still room for growth in this market,” Canala-Echeverría noted.
