The North American market restricts the access of Chilean blueberries from the regions of O'Higgins, Maule, and Bio Bio. The United States requires that the Chilean fresh blueberries be fumigated before being exported to that country due to the presence of the Lobesia Botrana or the grapevine moth in the orchards of the central zone of Chile.
Unfortunately, stated Andres Armstrong, the executive director of the ASOEX Blueberry Committee, when this fruit undergoes this quarantine treatment it loses its organic status in the United States. In this scenario, the orchards located from La Araucanía to the south emerge as an opportunity to develop the organic market of blueberries in Chile without restrictions and to maintain an interesting offer for the United States, a country that last season accounted for 85% of Chile's shipments of organic products.
"85% of Chile's organic production was sent to the United States, it is a relevant market for us. Last season, for the first time, we were able to follow the export volume which was 9.2% of the total export of fresh blueberries," stated Armstrong, adding that, even though this production model was more complex, it paid higher prices.
The price of organic fruits can be up to 30% higher than the price of the fruit produced in a conventional way.
Exports
According to data from ASOEX's Blueberry Committee, Chile exported 110,240 tons of fresh blueberries during the 2017-2018 season, 9,984 tons of which were organic.
La Araucania lead shipments with 4,037 tons, (i.e. a 40% share); it was followed by Los Rios with 2,142 tons (21% share), and Los Lagos with 836 tons, which accounts for an 8% share of the total organic fresh fruit exported.
"30% of the plantations are located in Maule, 30% in Bio Bio, and 30% from La Araucania to the south. Organic offer has decreased because we have a restriction in an important part of the producing area. If we consider this, the surface is still low."
Source: ASOEX's Blueberry Committee / Campo Sureño