US: Demand on Chilean figs keeps pace with supply

With Chilean fig production at its highest since the country began exporting figs to America in 2010, demand has skyrocketed this winter, says one American importer.

“I’m selling more than I can actually get into the country this year,” says Susan Kragie of Western Fresh Marketing, a domestic and imported produce supplier with headquarters in Madera, CA. “It’s going really well.”

Kragie says that Western Fresh – which began its Chilean fig program at the end of 2010 and was the first American supplier to import figs from Chile – has not seen supply levels this strong in the five years that the company has handled Chilean product. “I would say we probably have 1/3 more figs than a typical year,” she says.

As supplies have risen, prices have fallen on Western Fresh’s product. “Last year we would have been at $36.00,” Kragie says, quoting prices for a container of twelve 8-ounce clamshell containers. “This year, we’re at $28.00.”

Kragie believes that low prices have been the biggest reason why demand has gone up this season. Until this year, many of Western Fresh’s buyers only purchased domestic figs, available during California’s summer season. But with prices down, many of those customers are now demanding Chilean product.

According to Kragie, strong supplies are expected to continue through to the beginning of May, when Chilean harvests come to an end. Kragie says that current supplies are thanks to a strong first season. She believes that second season harvests, which will occur in the spring, should also have high yields. “I think this year we’re going to have a good supply throughout.”

Kragie believes that ideal weather conditions and better farming practices have likely led to this year’s surge in supply. “Optimal weather conditions combined with how well trees are pruned – that can lead to a strong first season.”

As for domestic supply, Western Fresh is expecting that the rainfall received by California this winter will have an effect on harvest timetables. For the past three to four years, Kragie says, dry weather has shifted harvests forward by about two weeks to early/mid May. This year, Kragie expects that California figs will follow a more “traditional” harvest pattern in 2016, starting harvests at the end of May. “It looks like figs might actually be on time this year.”

For more information:

Susan Kragie

Tel: +1 (559) 662-0301+1 (559) 662-0301