Marco Mattar stated, in the Fedefruta's Regional Meeting in Quillota, that if avocado producers did not acknowledge their problems, Chile would be overtaken by its competitors. Thus, the country would lose its reputation as a major fruit power and become just "a country that produces fruit".
Why? "In Peru and Colombia the avocado crops work hard for the producers, while in Chile the producer must work hard for the avocado crops," he said.
Chile produces between 10 and 12 tons of avocado per hectare by using technology and all the applications while countries like Colombia produce about 30 or 35 tons, with good size and flavor, just with a couple of applications.
In Colombia or Peru a worker gets paid 8 dollars per day, while in Chile they get paid 8 dollars per hour. However, the fruit from all these countries have the same competition conditions in target markets.
Manuel Jose Alcaíno, president of Decofrut, had previously said at the regional meeting, that they needed to seize the moment Chilean avocados were enjoying. We have the best prices ever this season in Europe and the United States, and China is also excited about this fruit, after the Chinese authorities approved their entry into the country. "It's not a cherry or a blueberry, but Chile that is making a revolution. The Chinese, however, have a high rejection of black markings on their fruit, so we have to be careful."
Europeans have begun eating more avocado, said Alcaíno, and there has been a significant consumption rate in France, England, and even in Germany. These places also import avocados from Mexico, which has shipped lower quantities to the Old Continent that led to an increase in prices. Meanwhile, Mexico has taken an important role in the United States, he said.
"Chile has a strong image in the fruit growing sector, but there will come a time when developers of new varieties will wonder if they should come to our country, and they will prefer to go elsewhere," said Mattar. "We want the avocado in Chile to work for us. If we keep working for it, we'll lose the business."
Source: Communications Fedefruta