The Chilean kiwifruit industry is enjoying a revival according to its sector body, the association of kiwifruit producers.

Felipe Espinosa, president of the body puts the reversal of fortune down to favourable international market conditions and better planning on the part of his members.

Prices of some $0.40 a kilo in recent years are encouraging growers to plant more especially given relative stability in production in volumes in New Zealand. Espinsoa was also reported in the Chilean press citing eastern Europe as a good export opportunity for Chilean kiwifruit as the crop cannot be grown locally due to climatic conditions.

The main growing areas in Chile are the VI and VII regions which account for about 70 per cent of the national crop, although there are also plantations in parts of the Metropolitan region, regions V, VIII and some parts of region X.

Espinosa calculates there will be about 12,000 ha under kiwifruit production in Chile this year and nurseries are selling around 600,000 plants a year, he estimates. This compares to official figure of 6,640ha just two years ago.

“Out industry has matured and we are producing better quality kiwifruit,” Espinosa was reported. “This has earned us greater prestige as suppliers. We could even reach 14,000 ha of planted area for kiwifruit. But if business goes badly, it is solely our responsibility as the conditions are right for growth.”

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