According to the information provided by the Ministry of Agriculture through the Agriculture and Livestock Service (SAG), total cherry exports from the Valley of Chile Chico and Bahia Jara increased by 36% over the previous season.
Total production amounted to nearly 430,000 kilos, almost 230,000 kilos of which were intended for export to England; a figure that is much higher than the initial 515 kilos of cherries exported in 2007. This is the result of a nine-year joint work between producers and the Ministry of Agriculture, through its various services.
Horacio Velasquez, the regional secretary of Agriculture, said that "currently, the cherries from Chile Chico and Bahia Jara have the Patagonia Aysén Brand and we are working to get the Protected Geographical Indication, which adds value and appreciation to the fruit."
The main and most demanded cherry varieties in the destination markets are the Bing, Kordia, Lapins, and Sweet Heart varieties, all of which are dark-skinned fruits, with calibers over 28 mm, with a good taste, firmness, and texture, that make them differ from the cherries produced in the central part of the country.
After undergoing the SAG's selection and certification process, the cherries are exported to distant markets, such as Britain and the European Union. When shipped, the fruit must be kept at a temperature close to 0 ° C and with a relative humidity of 95% so that they arrive in perfect conditions to the target markets 40 days after.
Inspection at origin
The Ministry of Agriculture, through the Agriculture and Livestock Service (SAG), certifies and monitors the exporting process. The SAG is the entity responsible for ensuring that, in this case, the exported cherries meet the demanding requirements set by the country of destination.
This export process has undergone significant advances that have strengthened this area in the region. Up until a few years ago, the SAG only carried out the inspection at origin of the fruit, then it was redirected to a central area of the country were it was packed and dispatched to Europe.
Additionally, in 2016 the Jeinimeni river was consolidated as an output port for cherries, which has allowed producers to send the fruit directly from Chile Chico to Europe, as it is shipped in Buenos Aires, which has decreased its transit time by more than ten days so the product reaches its destination in better condition.
Source: eldivisadero.cl