Edwards said he will work to incorporate new members from large, medium and small producers
Mario Edwards has been elected as the new president of the Chilean Cherry Committee. Edwards, who is currently commercial manager of Agrofruta, will serve a two-year term.
Thanking outgoing president Cristián Tagle, the committee’s executive director Claudia Soler said: “We appreciate all the work and commitment of Cristián, under which as a committee we grew and undertook successful actions.
“Together with Cristián we carried out important work to consolidate our presence in our main market, China. Today, the challenge is to continue growing, increasing consumption and facing challenges, such as phytosanitary ones, in a united manner. We welcome Mario for taking on this task to continue promoting our industry”.
Edwards has worked in the Chilean fruit production and export sector for many years and since 2019 he has been a director of the Chilean Fruit Board. He described Chile’s cherry industry as “a driving force” within the fruit sector and said his new role was a source of great pride and would present a tremendous challenge.
“All the people who work in the committee, and in Frutas de Chile, are a tremendous team that in the end make this challenge easier. In addition, all the directors have offered me their support to be able to develop a successful work,” he said.
The upcoming 2024/25 season is challenging for the cherry sector due to the outbreak of fruit flies in Chimbarongo. Edwards said this would require individual and collective effort to resolve the problem.
“Each season is different, there are no simple recipes or solutions, but in past years we have overcome challenges that seemed quite insurmountable and we all hope that this will not be the exception,” he said.
As part of a smaller cherry production and export company, Edwards said he would try to continue to incorporate new members into the committee, which currently accounts for 80 per cent of Chilean cherry exports.
“The committee already has its history and one must represent the interests and challenges of all, which are obviously different, both large, medium and small,” he said.
“Without a doubt, the task is to continue trying to incorporate those who are not there and for partners of all sizes to feel even more involved. We want to advance the commitment of partners to the sustainable development of this activity, where there are many people involved in each part of the process.”
The committee elected a total of five new directors, including a representative of a Chinese company.
