Fruit production in Chile: bright past, uncertain future

Abstract

-In 2007 (the last agricultural census), Chile had 308, 445 ha of fruit orchards: an increase of almost 32% from the previous census (1997). The most important species were table grapes (20%), avocados (13%) and apples (12%). Some 22% of the fruit crops growing area corresponded to juvenile orchards; within the species with higher proportion of juvenile orchards were prunes (42%) and blueberries (56%). Most orchards are located between latitude 27º 18` S (Copiapó) and 40º 36´S (Puerto Varas). The industry is driven by the export component which accounts for more than 50% of the fruits produced. In the crop season 2009-2010, approximately 254 million boxes (around 2.5 million tons) were exported, representing over US$ 3.5 million. Processed and fresh fruits represented 8.2 and 26.7% of the total forest and agricultural Chilean exports in 2008, respectively. The main markets for this fruits were USA/Canada (42%) and Europe (32%). The fruit grower receives, on average, 12-16% of the total price of the fruit in its final destination. Each year the fruit industry employs 450.000 people directly, of which 1/3 are permanent. Even though the fruit industry employs the highest proportion of the agricultural labor and the growing area has increased in the last 20 years, the proportion of agricultural employment has decreased from 19.5% in 1989 to 10.8% in 2008. It might also be noted that Chile invests only 0.7% of the GDP in research. In the last 40 years, the fruit industry has been a motor for the Chilean economic development, but the lower rates of currency exchange, the rising costs of energy (oil, electricity), and the increasing scarcity of hand labor have drastically reduced the profitability and are putting at risk the viability of a large proportion of the fruit orchards in Chile. It is estimated that this season around 65% of the orchards will have a negative economic balance in their operations. Higher investment in research, improvements in fruit quality and various orchard management practices, as well as higher financial support from the Government are needed for the long term viability of the fruit industry in Chile. Index terms: statistics,fruits,exportations. PRODUÇÃO DE FRUTAS NO CHILE: PASSADO BRILHANTE, FUTURO INCERTORESUMO -Em 2007 (último censo agrícola), o Chile tinha 308.445 ha de pomares: um aumento de quase 32% em relação ao censo anterior (1997). As espécies mais importantes foram, uva de mesa (20%), abacate (13%) e maçã (12%). Cerca de 20% da terra ocupada pela fruticultura, correspondeu a pomares juvenis; desse total, as espécies com maior proporção de pomares juvenis foram ameixeiras (42%) e mirtilos (56%). A maioria dos pomares está localizada entre as latitudes 27º 18` S (Copiapó) e 40º 36´S (Porto Varas). A fruticultura é impulsionada pela exportação que corresponde a mais de 50% das frutas produzidas. Na safra 2009-2010, aproximadamente 254 milhões de caixas (cerca de 2.5 milhões de toneladas) foram exportados, representando mais de US$ 3,5 milhões. Frutas processadas e frescas ...

Internationalization paths of fruit export companies from emerging economies

“…Fruit exports remain the most important activity in Chile's agricultural sector, representing around 2.6% of the total GDP, almost 50% of the total agricultural exports and 40% of the agricultural gross product over the last decade (Retamales and Sepúlveda, 2011;Klerkx, Villalobos and Engler, 2012). Chile is the most important fruit exporter in the southern hemisphere and the leading exporter of table grapes and blueberries worldwide.…”

“…Chile is the most important fruit exporter in the Southern Hemisphere, the leading exporter of table grapes worldwide and the second of blueberries and cherries. Fruit exports remain the most important activity in Chile's agricultural sector, representing around 2.6 percent of the total GDP, almost 50 percent of the total agricultural exports and 40 percent of gross agricultural production over the last decade (Retamales and Sepúlveda, 2011;Klerkx et al, 2012). The fruit sector in Chile accounts for 320 thousand hectares and generates around 5m tons of total production quantity, of which 2.6m tons are exported as fresh fruit resulting in more than $4,800bn in sales volume per year.…”

Blueberry production in Chile: current status and future developments

“…The market is increasingly demanding sustainable production practices. Growers are aware of this and are advancing in various ways (Retamales and Sepúlveda, 2011).…”

“…chile invests only 0.7% of its GdP in science and research (Retamales and Sepúlveda, 2011). local research has been done for more than 20 years, and has helped growers to solve their problems.…”

“…The map shows that currently there is a high concentration of plantings in some counties located in the southern border of the Maule region (Parral, Retiro) where the potential availability of labor is low. even though growing conditions would be appropriate and potential yields would be high, further blueberry plantings in that area would face problems with availability (and cost) of labor especially at harvest time (Retamales and Sepúlveda, 2011). …”