Verfrut, a leading producer and exporter of fruits in Peru and Chile, has seen a notable increase in cherry shipments to important markets such as China and the United States, thanks to the entry into production of new plantations. According to Sebastian Rodriguez, the company's commercial manager, the export volume increased by 45% over the previous year. However, the final figures were 10% below the initial projections, as the company exported 2,240,000 boxes but had projected it would export 2,400,000.
There's been a significant expansion of cherry crops in the last five years, going from 300 to 2,000 hectares, mainly in the regions of Rapel and the Longaví and Linares areas. With 90% of these new hectares already in production, Verfrut forecasts it will experience a 70% growth in the next campaign, and plans to reach 5 million boxes in the coming years.
The good results are also attributed to lower adverse weather issues, such as rainfall and low temperatures, compared to other areas. This allowed Verfrut to minimize losses and recover part of the production affected by the rain in specific varieties such as Santina. In addition, the company experienced a better reception in the Chinese market thanks to a longer season and volume distribution that avoided market saturation.
Unlike other companies experimenting with new cherry varieties, Verfrut remained focused on traditional varieties such as Santina, Lapins, and Regina, due to the Chinese market's preference for large-caliber fruits and sweetness. The company prioritizes quality and caliber over quantity, regulating cargo to ensure a high quality product for the Chinese market.
Faced with climate change and the transition from El Niño to La Niña, which brings frost and scarce rainfall, Verfrut has prepared itself with anti-frost systems and ensuring it has sufficient water resources to face drought, especially to protect the earliest cherry varieties.
Source: simfruit.cl