Ronald Bown

Ronald Bown

Chilean producers said they had an overwhelmingly positive response while at Fruit Logistica last week.

Ronald Bown, president of the Association of Chilean Fruit Exporters (ASOEX), said: “We have conducted numerous discussions with interested parties and customers from all over the world.”

Forty Chilean companies exhibited at the show and the country is the largest exporter of fresh fruit in the southern hemisphere.

Bown said business is booming: “During the past season our exports to Europe rose by almost 30 per cent, and sales to Russia increased by as much as 60 per cent.”

He said there is still further opportunities for expansion into the future and said more and more Chilean companies were embracing the country’s ChileGAP certification programme.

ASOEX represents 300 exporters, accounting for 92 per cent of the country’s total exports of fresh produce.