A few days ago, the University of Chile presented the results of a study requested by the Chilean Hass Avocado Committee in which they found that 3, out of 24, Peruvian avocados were contaminated by the controversial sunblotch viroid. A result that, according to the president of the Chilean committee, Gonzalo Bulnes, would bring down the Chilean industry.
Arturo Medina, general manager of the Peruvian of Hass Avocado Producers Association, noted that the study only confirmed a fact that was already known.
"I'm not surprised, it was logical that they were going to do the study, but we never said we weren't affected by the sunblotch. So all they have done is reaffirm what we said," said Medina.
"However, I'm curious as to why my friends from the Chilean Avocado Committee didn't perform the same study on the 180 containers of avocado that arrived from California last year that also have the sunblotch viroid," he added.
Thus, Medina expressed his concern about the attitude being taken on the entry of Peruvian avocado to Chile, when Peru isn't the only source affected by the sunblotch.
"That's what bothers me and, since they have been very diligent and very transparent in analysing Peruvian avocado, I hope they'll take the initiative of doing the same with the Chilean avocado to see if they are also affected by the sunblotch, so that they won't blame it on the Peruvian avocado" he said.
Medina said the viroid was asymptomatic, so it was very difficult to notice its presence in crops. "You can see a tree and not know if it is affected by the sunblotch, the only option is to sample all the trees," he said.
When asked how this latest study could affect the Peruvian avocado industry, ProHass' CEO said: "Truth of the matter is that, since we are so close to them, it is much easier to send our fruit to Chile than to import it from Mexico or California."
"Not all of the Chilean avocado producers feel uneasy with our imports. It's just a group of producers who, coincidentally, would harvest their products in the same window in which we are entering the Chilean market and were privileged to have fruit in that window because it had very good returns, since there's not much fruit at that time," he added.
Thus, he stated, one of the main reasons the Chilean avocado producers are protesting is because of the competition generated by the Peruvian fruit.
"There's going to be more competition now that the Peruvian avocado, which is just as good and tasty as those from Chile, is entering the market. Ultimately that will bring prices down and, at the end, the Chilean consumers, which we consider to be very good consumers of Hass avocado, are going to be favoured for this," he said.
According to Medina, in recent years, Peru has increased its avocado production by nearly 23 to 25%, and they even increased it by 30%, a trend that continues to rise.
"This year we are growing by nearly 55% when compared to 2013 and we estimate that our production will increase by 50% next year," he said.
"So, if this disease is so disastrous and it can ruin the avocado industry that exists in Chile and Peru, I would like to be told how we've managed to have a steady growth in our production as the statistics clearly show," he added.
Medina noted that if the viroid had the potential to destroy the avocado industry, Peru wouldn't be able to increase its exports and its production every year, as it has done to date.
"We wouldn't be growing if it were as lethal as to destroy an entire industry. Our production wouldn't increase. Quite the opposite, we would have fewer acres and there wouldn't be Chilean, Mexican or American investors asking us to plant and invest in Peru. It would be really crazy to do so if one knew that there was such a lethal virus. No one would invest here."
Medina said the study conducted by the University of Chile would probably not affect the Peruvian industry, especially because the sunblotch affected the fruit's appearance and the avocados exported to Chile had been shipped in top physical condition.
"You just don't export a fruit that has visible damage. I'm quite sure that the 24 fruits they tested were in optimum conditions, they didn't even have a scratch," he said.
"We take care to send the fruit that is visibly good because beauty is in the eye of the beholder. We're not going to export a fruit that has a visible scratch, be it because of a physiological issue or because a bird scratched the fruit. I assure you that if you go to a supermarket and look at the Peruvian avocado, it's going to look just like the ones from Chile, with the same physical and external features. That's not what this issue is about," he said.
Medina, however, highlighted the Chileans transparency as they stated the sunblotch didn't affect the consumers' health.
"I really like that they have been honest and have stressed that this does not undermine public health. It's important to highlight that because people get scared when you start talking about it and one could create some panic among the people. It would be really sad to misinform people," he added.
Regarding the work carried out by the Chile's Agriculture and Livestock Service [SAG], Medina said, "it is a very respected institution within all the world's institutions. The SAG knows why they tell producers that this won't undermine the industry, " adding that "it is regrettable that there is this much discomfort and it is understandable that there is, but we know that what they are saying is too exaggerated."
"I trust the study, it seems completely transparent and I truly appreciate it was carried out, but it's not saying anything we didn't already know. There's nothing new. We've never denied being affected by the sunblotch, and I can only emphasize that we are surprised that they performed this study to the fruit that comes from Peru and not to other suppliers that have taken a lot of fruit to Chile," he said.
Source: Fresh Fruit Portal