Chile is now the world’s third most important producer of kiwifruit, preceded only by Italy and New Zealand. Its production is estimated at 150,000 tonnes, which amounts to about 12 per cent of the world’s total, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) latest report. Chile achieved this position in the middle of the 1990s, after leading producing countries began removing significant plantations at the beginning of the decade, because of the fall in international prices.
Following the world-wide trend, Chile also began removing planted kiwifruit orchards, but it was not until later, in the second half of the decade, that Chile’s production fell from 146,000t in 1998 to 110,000t in 1999 and 2000. Nevertheless, at the beginning of the next decade, plantations were no longer being removed, but new orchards were planted in areas most suitable for the development of kiwifruit, using better production and post-harvest techniques.
This new growth in production also began to occur in competing countries like Italy and New Zealand, but with a greater lapse of time between the end of orchard removals and the beginning of new plantations, than Chile had experienced.
However, in Italy and New Zealand there has been greater emphasis in the development and introduction of new kiwifruit species, more in line with the ever-increasing demands by global consumers. By contrast, the implementation of new varieties has only recently begun to occur in Chile over the past two years.
CHILEAN EXPORTS
The evolution of Chilean kiwifruit exports closely resembles its production curve. Exports fell to 140,000t in 1998, and to just more than 100,000t in the following two years. In later years this diminution was reverted, and exports have since increased to 130,000t.
Europe is the principal market destination for Chilean kiwifruit exports, and it is becoming stronger each year. In the year 2000 it absorbed 40 per cent of Chile’s exports, growing to 65 percent last season. Exports to the US and Latin America, on the other hand, have fallen. These two markets each received 25 per cent of Chile’s kiwifruit exports in 2000 but only 15 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively, in 2004.
NEW DEVELOPMENTS
During the past few years, following the rebound in the kiwifruit export market, there has been a growing interest in Chile for developing new varieties, or ‘mutants’ of the dominant variety, Hayward.
According to some experts, kiwifruit plantations in Chile are expected to increase in the coming years from the current 9,000ha to levels seen in the mid 1990s, of about 12,000ha. Some are even expecting, in the medium term, as many as 15,000ha. The principle new varieties introduced suggest that harvesting will begin earlier than the Hayward, but with fruit characteristics very similar to the Hayward. This would include the Summer Kiwi variety and the Green Light, a Hayward mutation. Additionally, yellow-fleshed varieties are also being introduced, which are also harvested early. These include the Zespri Gold and Jintao.
Summer Kiwi: This is the generic commercial name given to kiwifruit coming from Italy, which is the result of a crossing of Hayward varieties to create a fruit that is harvested earlier. Italy’s Summer Kiwi and the Summer 3373 varieties are patented in Chile by an association of nurseries, land owners and exporters that control production and exportation.
Summer Kiwi is harvested 50 days earlier than the Hayward and 300-500ha of the variety is scheduled to be planted in Chile within the next five years.
Green Light: This is a Hayward mutation with an early harvest date. Italy has yet to produce it commercially. A publicity campaign for the fruit aimed at all producing countries was launched recently and in Chile several producers have received patents so that they may start in-vitro production.
Hort 16 or Zespri Gold™: Zespri’s patented gold variety is grown on licensed plantations in New Zealand, Europe and Chile. Chile has only 120ha of Zespri Gold planted, which is mostly confined to the Santiago and Requinoa areas.
Jintao: This is a yellow pulp variety that originated in China, and is now in the process of technical domestication and commercialisation in Italy. The production license belongs to Italy’s Kiwi Gold consortium, which recently reached an agreement with Chilean growers for patents in this country.
Felipe Espinosa, the president of the Chilean Association of Kiwifruit Producers, believes varietal diversity is a high priority. “The growth in kiwifruit production shouldn’t impact our sales, which are concentrated in a single variety and in a very limited harvest time,” says Espinosa. “It should be clarified that the harvest time for Hayward for northern producers, around Santiago, is not that different for southern producers. It is another matter if one accelerates the harvest time, harvesting fruit that has lower brix levels. This is why it is important to have a wider spectrum of varieties. We would sure like to be able to harvest kiwifruit for at least a two months period, with maximum maturity levels for the demanding consumers we have in Europe, Asia and the United States.”
ORGANIC KIWIFRUIT
Chile has been producing and commercialising organic fruit for less than a decade. As in most other countries, production is in the hands of small and mid-sized producers.
However, this sector is believed to have interesting potential, and is attracting more and more attention from larger producers. Organic kiwifruit production is currently estimated at 150ha, which is still a very small percentage of the 9,000ha of kiwifruit now in production. According to data developed by Pro Chile, of the $12.7 million FOB received for Chile’s organic exports in 2004, fresh kiwifruit accounted for 14 per cent, with returns of about $1.8m FOB, with Europe being the principal market.
Chile can now lay claim to an organisation promoting production and exportation of organic fruit, the Asociación Orgánica de Chile, that has worked with other institutions to promote an organic agriculture law that was just passed into law in July of this year. The law creates a National System for Certification of Organic Products, which creates a certification system in sync with those in other countries. This initiative is designed to increase organic exports, and to increase the confidence of potential buyers.
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