Chile's Fruit Exporters Association AG (ASOEX), ProChile, and Chile's Citrus Committee -ASOEX carried out a creative show in the framework of Chile Week China 2019 to officially present the diverse range of Chilean citrus in the Chinese market.
The Chilean citrus debuted in a colorful sample of Chilean foods (Food from Chile) called Chile Food Market, which was held at the Shanghai Global Harbor Mall, and which was the opening point of the Chilean Week in this important city. Fruits from Chile had an attractive stand in the Chile Food Market. Visitors were greeted by the colorful and sweet tasting Chilean citrus. Consumers got to taste these juicy fruits and children could paint the Chilean fruits that are sent to China.
Ronald Bown, the President of ASOEX, said: "Chinese Customs professionals recently visited Chile to review our phytosanitary protocols, and just a few days ago the Chilean Minister of Agriculture and the Head of China's Customs signed a pre-agreement, which will be ratified by the presidents of both countries in APEC in November. That's we found Chile Week was the perfect setting to officially present our citrus fruits so that consumers can start to know their quality and sweetness."
"One of ASOEX's objectives is to work to open up new opportunities for Chile's fruit export sector, and that is what we have been working on with the authorities of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Agricultural and Livestock Service, and Customs authorities of China. Today, thanks to this joint work, our cherries, blueberries, table grapes, plums, nectarines, kiwis, avocados, apples, and most recently our pears, can enter the Chinese market; a market that we believe will be, in the medium term, the main destination of our fruits," Bown added.
In the 2017-2018 season Chile sent 385,516 tons of fresh fruits to China, i.e. 66.46% more than in the previous season, the president of ASOEX stated. The main export product was the cherry (with 41.4% of the total). It was followed by table grapes (30.8%), plums (10.7%), nectarines (4.3%), kiwis (4.2%), avocados (3.2%), and apples (2.9%).
The Chile Food Market focused on the final consumer. 15 Chilean companies that are present in the market also participated in the activity conducting tastings, promotions, and cooking shows of their products. They sold their products directly to the final consumer and invited them to live a Chilean experience with fresh fruit, products from the sea, wine, and pisco, among other national products that have conquered Chinese consumers.
Former President Eduardo Frei was in charge of opening the Chile Food Market. The opening event was attended by the Chilean Ambassador to China, Luis Schmidt, the Minister of Agriculture, Antonio Walker, the Undersecretary of International Economic Relations, Rodrigo Yañez, the General Director of ProChile, Jorge O'Ryan, and key actors from the private sector, such as Ronald Bown, the President of ASOEX, as well as other government and private world representatives participating in Chile Week China 2019.
The inauguration was also attended by Momo, a food blogger who broadcast the inauguration ceremony live; a stream that got more than 10 million views in the first two hours.