As the first sea-freight containers of cherries from Chile have started to arrive in China this week, the higher prices in that market are the reference prices for European and other buyers. “I have some European customers in Spain who are trying to buy cherries. The problem is mainly the prices. The target price is what China is paying and they are paying very good prices, because of the low availability. In order to get cherries you have to pay prices that are comparable to the China prices,” says Camila Borquez Maldifassi, owner and founder of Fresh Produce Trading in Chile.
Camila Borquez Maldifassi, owner and founder of Fresh Produce Trading in Chile.
She started her own business in Chile to help facilitate the exports of different fresh produce for clients in different parts of the world. “I started my own business representing companies in Chile, because I’m based here, but I work with trusted partners in Italy, France and other origins. Because of this strategy, I have coverage of some products all year round. I have a customer in India who buys apples and kiwis, we do sourcing from Europe for him and then from the southern hemisphere from Chile, in this way we guarantee all year round sourcing. Another customer I have is in the Netherlands and they work from Chile fresh products that work well in the Asian markets. I am focused in Chile on cherries, apples and pears and also some grapes that go mainly into Asia. I serve some customers in US and Canada with citrus, blueberries and grapes from Chile."
She acts as the local representative for these companies, "I negotiate the prices, quantities, do the quality checking and I ensure that my customers containers are shipped. I’m their eyes in the local market and this is particularly useful when you have different time zones. Also part of what I do is to guarantee to my growers that they get paid on time and be the intermediary in case there are claims. I take care that all the process of the fruit is taken care of from the very beginning from the farm, quality, shipment, documents, payments and claims if any etc.” explains Borquez Maldifassi.
She personally handles about 60 containers per season and looks to do the same for this year. “I am busy all year round, because my company structure is based in sourcing specific products from both hemispheres. Considering that 2023 has been a tough season in some of the produce I work all year round, I hope to close 2023 with around 60 containers depending on the cherries. It´s not a huge volume but I hope to grow in 2024.”
Borquez Maldifassi still has last season freshly in her memory while navigating the challenges of this current season. The climatic challenges has her worried. “Last season between all the produce and different destinations it was not the best season. There was big problems with kiwi fruit and a strong contraction in apples. In general, climate is having a very big impact in fruit availability. In the south hemisphere, most produce are heavily down in production or delayed this season, the “El Niño” has had a heavy impact.
"Specifically in the Chilean cherry season, we are only now (week 50) starting with the bigger volumes due to the abnormal rains we had in November that delayed the start and decreased initial volumes significantly .All these climate anomalies have heavy repercussions. The November rains were considered normal 20 years ago and they appear not to be normal now. Parts of the early cherries (Royal Dawns and Santinas) lost 50% of production due to cracking of fruit. We are lucky that there are varieties not affected by rains such as Lapins, with volumes that will be stronger and that will have a better harvest and pack outs. Now pack houses are not fully working, loadings are 66% less compared to last season this time.”
Despite the rain and initially lower cherry volumes from Chile early in the season she is positive that the industry will adapt and provide the best quality possible. “After the rains we have to adapt to the new existing conditions in terms of volume and take the advantage of good prices in China. The fruit is simply not there and we need to comply with our customers. Failing in quality this season would be a bad move, we need to protect the image of our country and do the best we can to comply with our commitments. Risking the quality is not an option, we are technically well prepared to supply good quality fruit even during the hard times,” concludes Borquez Maldifassi.
For more information:
Camila Borquez Maldifassi
Fresh Produce Trading
Tel: +56 9 565 48178
Email: [email protected]