"This is a recovery year for Chilean apples"

The low temperatures recorded in the spring and summer seasons have been quite favourable for the production of Chilean apples, but the harvest of the Fuji and Pink Lady varieties is only just starting, so the impact of the autumn rains is yet to be seen and preventive measures will be required. "This season has been good, but our apples have been mainly small compared to other years. This has brought many challenges, since Latin America, which is the market demanding the smaller sizes, is going through a difficult economic situation with devalued currencies. Chile should aim to produce medium and large apples, as with these calibres the fruit has more market alternatives," states Miguel Comas, of Exportadora San Clemente.

The early apple harvests, of varieties like the Royal Gala, Red Delicious, etc., have already finished, with exports going mainly to North America and Asia. At present, the Fuji crops are starting to bear fruit and these will have Asia as their main destination. "Exports are already on the right track and we have good prospects. I believe we'll see a 20% increase in the harvest this season compared to last year. We must not forget that 2015 was a very bad year in terms of volume, with a 30% drop, and that this is a recovery year," confirmed the spokesperson.

With an average of 40 million boxes exported per year, Chilean apples are renowned in the international market mainly for their high quality, colour and taste, but customers are becoming increasingly more demanding when it comes to quality. "To meet the necessary standards and requirements, it is essential to plant in the land with the most suitable climate for the variety we intend to grow. Not forgetting the proper planning of storage temperatures and having a properly trained and professional team able to meet any challenge," continues the representative of the Chilean company.

"While the market conditions are tougher due to the economic crisis, the prospects for our apples are still good. A major challenge as an industry is the growing competition from New Zealand and South Africa, which are gaining ground in Asia and the UK, threatening Chile's leadership in those markets. We, as an industry, have to continue moving forward and taking advantage of the growing demand from Asia, as well as opening new potential markets, such as India and South East Asia," concludes Miguel Comas.