The Association of Agricultural Producers and Exporters of the Copiapo Valley officially kicked off the Table Grapes Harvest Season for the 2018-2019 Season.
The inauguration ceremony, which was attended by the highest regional authorities and the national agricultural sector, was held yesterday in the dependencies of Agricola Don Alfonso, located in Fundo Hornitos Camino in the Tierra Amarilla Commune.
"We hope will have good returns this season, as we expect we'll produce more than 10 million boxes this season, with a lot of new variety. We are really looking forward to it. The 40 partner companies are really committed. Today we are officially inaugurating the Valley table grape harvest season; however, the harvest began on November 20, and we expect to ship out the first shipment between December 5 and 7, mainly to the US market, and a bit to the Middle East. We also expect the harvest will end in the first week of March with the latest varieties, but the harvest potential begins now, in December and until the first half of January," said Lina Arrieta, President of APECO.
This season there will be an increase in exports of new varieties, she added. "Some varieties, such as the Flame variety, is being used to make raisins; while the Red Globe is being replaced. For example, Subsole told us that this is the last season they harvest the Flame variety, as they are changing them for new varieties that have a bigger demand in the destination markets. We are looking to adapt to what consumers are asking for, and we are addressing this challenge in a responsible and eager way," she added.
During his speech, the President of ASOEX, Ronald Bown, highlighted the efforts of Chilean table grape producers and exporters, especially of the Copiapo Valley, as they've been able to transform the difficulties they've faced, such as the rains in March 2015, into opportunities. Bown stated that the national table grape sector was facing challenges in the destination markets, especially the grape from the north of the country, and that, to face them, producers and exporters were betting on new varieties that already enjoy the support of consumers in this fruit's main market, the United States.
Source: simfruit.cl
