The Chilean Citrus Committee-Asoex has said that the first shipment of Chilean mandarins of the W. Murcott and Tango varieties to the USA and Canada, had departed the country aboard the Jpo Libra, Captain San Sounio, and Callao Express ships.
The harvest of Chilean mandarins began in week 27 in some early sectors near Vicuña in the Coquimbo region. In week 28, the country shipped 85 tons of mandarins, 64 tons of which were destined for the East Coast of the United States and 21 tons for Canada.
The Chilean export volume is 85% lower than in the same week of the previous season, mainly because in the last season shipments began two weeks earlier, due to climate conditions and higher temperatures.
This season, producers expect to produce 101,000 tons of mandarins, i.e. 32% more than in the 76,373 tons achieved in 2017.
The Chairman of the Citrus Committee, Juan Enrique Ortuzar, said that "the percentage of growth has remained constant in the last 6 seasons.
In 2012 we exported 22 thousand tons and this year we expect to export more than 100 thousand tons, which would allow Chile to consolidate itself as the main supplier in the Easy Peelers category in the North American counter season. Our goal is to continue growing in a market that is expanding and where consumption is constantly increasing."
In turn, the manager of the Committee, Monserrat Valenzuela, said that the main reason for this boost was the greater availability of water for irrigation due to the recovery of reservoirs in the producing areas, and the increase in the area planted. "The mandarin sector is growing because this fruit has a great acceptance by consumers, as it is a convenient snack, of adequate size, that has no seeds and is very healthy."
Source: Chile's Citrus Committee-ASOEX