Chile: Avocado exports more than doubled during the season

Shipments will add about 185 thousand tons of fruit, this, after two years with production problems arising from the frost that affected the plantations in 2007.

For farmers involved in the production of avocados, the 2009-2010 season will be surely a period of recovery in the volume of exports of this fruit.

This is due to the frosts that hit the plantations during the winter of 2007 which heavily damaged the crops and thus shipments this year and last season. In fact, the 2008-2009 period ended with shipments of 75 thousand tons.

But two years after the terrible event, the projections of exports improved dramatically. Although they have yet to ship about 40% of the production, local producers expect the market will place more than twice the amount of fruit they sold the previous year.

"What happened was that last year was brutally low, and this year we should be around the 185 thousand tons," said Adolfo Ochagavía chairman of the Avocado Committee.

"Plantations affected by frost have already recovered their production potential. These plantations are concentrated in the regions of Valparaiso (56%), Metropolitana (18%) and O'Higgins (17%)," said Ema Budinich, manager of the Studies of the National Society of Agriculture.

However, doubts remain concerning prices. The increase in volume could cause problems in marketing. But so far, the season will lasts until March, although values were lower than the previous season, they remain at reasonable levels, given in the sector.


Source: elmercurio.com

Publication date: 11/25/2009

respond to this article    print

Receive the daily newsletter in your email for free | Click here

 

<< back | www.freshplaza.com