The president of the Federation of Fruit Producers (Fedefruta), Cristián Allendes, made this statement, while offering the balance of the effects of the frost provided by the Ministry of Agriculture last Tuesday.
Allendes stressed that the losses for the sector amount to 1 billion dollars, and not the 800 million reported by the Minister, Luis Mayol.
He added that at least 50,000 jobs will be lost, and not 27,000 as originally expected.
The union leader requested the Government not to minimise the effects of the frost and affirmed that there will definitely be price increases. "Yes, fruit will cost more in the domestic market."
"All throughout November, December and January, prices will be higher regarding peaches, nectarines and plums, because there will be shortages. There will be half the volumes of a normal year, so it is impossible for them to cost the same," affirmed Allendes.
"Terror campaign"
Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the Vega Central, Arturo Guerrero, stated that the price increases for fruits and vegetables cannot yet be observed, and that in his opinion, we are witnessing a terror campaign whose effects will only be part of the contingency.
"I believe that there is no need to promote a consumerist terror campaign, because these markets do not work like that. People need to have alternatives for consumption," he declared.
He added that "Santiago, the Metropolitan Region, has every article available all year round. It is a luxury."
Something in which both unions and Government agreed is that up to 22% of the volumes for export have been damaged.
Fuente: Cooperativa.cl