The region of Aysen produced about 430,000 kilos of cherries in the 2016 season.
Since 2007, the residents of Chile Chico began to discover the area's potential for the production and subsequent export of cherries to different markets. As a result, the Minister of Agriculture, Carlos Furche and the Seremi of Agriculture, Horacio Velasquez, visited the location to observe in situ some ventures that have had an explosive increase in exports, which rose from 510 kilos in 2007 to nearly 230,000 kilos in the last season; mainly to the European Union.
The varieties with the most potential include the Bing, Kordia, Sweetheart, and Regina varieties. These varieties produce fruits that are bigger than 28 mm, have a good taste, firmness, and an excellent post-harvest life. The Secretary of State appreciated Chile Chico's potential in this sector and said that "despite the adverse weather conditions that affect this area, the public-private effort has contributed to strengthening the cherry industry in Chile Chico. The volume shipped has increased by almost five times since 2007, when producers sent their first shipment of cherries to Spain. This shows the regional industry has had a strong development, which was reinforced by the decision made in 2014 to enable Puerto Jeinimeni as a point of origin to Europe."
Currently, Chile Chico has 220 hectares of cherries planted. In this regard, Horacio Velasquez, Seremi of Agriculture for Aysen, said that they "have been supporting the fruit development in the Basin of Lake General Carrera for more than a decade, a situation that has been maintained and reinforced. The Valley of Chile Chico has a huge potential in this fruit category, so in the next few seasons production will continue to increase. In addition, this production can be replicated in other productive valleys of the region of Aysen, an it can be a niche for small producers.
Meanwhile, Avelino Jara, a producer of cherries from Chile Chico said: "I am very pleased that the Minister of Agriculture has visited my farm because it is a support that makes me think that we are doing things well with the help of the agricultural services, which are always present with technical assistance, new tools and technologies."
In his tour of the area, the Minister of Agriculture also visited the packing facilities of Agricola Chile Chico Cherry Ltda, which has established orchards since 1998, plant processing facilities since 2014, and exports directly to England from Chile Chico.
After undergoing the SAG's selection and certification process, the cherries are exported to distant markets, such as Britain and the European Union. When shipped, the fruit must be kept at a nearly 0 ° C and a relative humidity of 95% so that it arrives in perfect conditions to the target markets 40 days later.
Source: eldivisadero.cl