The Northern Hemisphere market can expect to receive a more average volume of table grapes from Chile this season.
Exports are on course to rise by 10 per cent to 878,788 tonnes, compared with 798,899 tonnes in 2009/10, according to Chile-based fruit analyst Decofrut.
“In general, the weather has presented quite a positive aspect for this season in terms of an sufficient accumulation of cold hours and adequate spring temperatures for flowering,” Manuel José Alcaíno, chairman of Decofrut, told Fruitnet.com.
According to Decofrut, exports of early table grapes from Chile’s northern regions are set to rise significantly in comparison to last season when inclement weather severely affected production.
The central region’s crop, meanwhile, is less accurate to predict.
The only real question this season is when harvesting will get underway.
“There is a delay in the physiological development of the fruit, mainly in the northern (early) region,” Mr Alcaíno noted.
“Local sources say this is likely to result in a harvesting setback of around 10-15 days. But this period could shorten depending on the fluctuation of temperatures up to the point of harvesting.
Decofrut said the start date could also vary according to region since the impact is likely to be less prominent nearer to the growing areas in central Chile.
The US is the biggest export destination for Chilean table grapes, absorbing on average over half of the industry’s annual output.
Europe accounts for over 20 per cent of the export crop, followed by Asia with roughly a 10 per cent share.
Other, smaller, markets import the remainder of the volume, mainly Latin America, the Middle East and Canada.
