Around 10 tonnes of the fruit has been sent to China, India, Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea and Spain
Chile has fired the starting gun on the 2024/25 cherry export campaign with the first air flown shipments of Chilean cherries arriving in international markets, marking the beginning of what exporters hope will be another record-breaking season.
Chile’s Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) said it had certified 10 tonnes of the fruit destined for China, India, Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea and Spain. With record volumes expected this season, SAG said it has added more personnel and improved its inspection and treatment systems in the main producing regions of the country.
“The first shipments of cherries have been made by air, totalling 2,186 cartons. With the beginning of the harvest in the central-northern part of the country, in the regions of Coquimbo and Valparaíso, we hope that the exported volume of this fruit will continue to increase progressively,” said SAG director José Guajardo Reyes.
“The increase in international demand, especially in Asia and North America, together with favourable weather conditions and improvements in production processes, allow us to anticipate a considerable increase in the volumes of fruit exported this season.”
A total of 130mn cartons are projected for the 2024/25 season, significantly up on last season’s 90mn carton total. China remains the main destination market, absorbing more than 90 per cent of exports.
