Posts Tagged “Chilean cherries”
Imported Chilean cherries to the U.S. got underway in late October and will continue into February.
The Chilean Fresh Fruit Association notes Chile is world’s largest exporter of cherries, shipping 77.8 million boxes around the globe last year. Chile projects cherry exports to the U.S. will see substantial growth in 2021-22, with nearly 13,000 metric tons expected for the U.S. market this season.
The Oppenheimer Group (Oppy), report shipments to North America are poised for yearly growth in the future.
China remains the primary destination for Chilean cherries, but production continues to grow and is now sufficient to support good volumes in North America, Europe, India and elsewhere. The North American market is viewed as the primary target for growth this season.
Overall volume this season could be 50 to over 100% higher than last year. The season started in mid-November with air shipments and should continue through February.
Volume with imports of Chilean fruit are becoming a little more in focus as forecast evaluations from a big hail storm last November are being summarized.
Export volume of Chilean cherries for the 2018-19 season are projected to be 10.5 percent lower than last season and off 7.1 percent from the initial estimate this year. Cherry exports are estimated at 33.44 million boxes, down from 37.38 million boxes a year ago. Peak export shipments of Chile cherries are expected the last week of December and the first week of January, with the season wrapping up by late February.
Most Chilean cherries are exported to China, but the U.S. also receives volume.
Through November 24th, the USDA reported season-to-date-shipments of Chilean cherries to the U.S. totaled 200,000 pounds, down from 2 million pounds for the same period last year.
Fewer Blueberries
Chilean blueberries apparently had less damage with the hard-hit O’Higgins region representing about 7 percent of the total planted area. However, hail also was reported in some growing areaser area of blueberries in the Maule Region. From the metropolitan region of Santiago to the south, over 4,900 acres of blueberries could have some damage from hail storms.
Chilean blueberry exports for 2018-19 are now projected at 100,800 metric tons, 4 percent lower than the 105,000 metric tons initially forecast. Reduction in volume will be felt in early and mid-season exports.
Through mid-November, about 1,905 metric tons had been exported from Chile, mostly bound for North America. Peak blueberry shipments are expected from December through February, with shipments continuing into March.
Through November 24th, the USDA reported season-to-date imports of Chilean blueberries totaled 2.4 million pounds, down from 3.7 million pounds the same time last year.
Chilean Grapes
The first Chilean grape imports on the East Coast are expected a few days prior to Christmas. While some Chilean grape advocates have said North America grape buyers are not interested in older varieties like California’s flames and red globes, the California grape trade is saying it will be shipping domestic grapes through most of January.
North America is Chile’s biggest grape market, taking 45 percent (39 million boxes) of Chilean grape export volume during the 2017-18 season.
SANTIAGO, CHILE — The Chilean cherry industry has reached a milestone as an industry, overtaking the historic cherry export limit of 20 million cartons, by shipping more than 30 million cartons during the current 2017-18 season; a figure that is expected to keep rising as exports continue.
“Up until last week we had reached more than 27 million cartons exported, but with the shipment that went out at the weekend, the industry has now overtaken 30 million cartons, the equivalent of 150,000 tons of cherries,” announced Cristian Tagle, President of the Cherry Committee of the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association (ASOEX).
According to Tagle, the volume reached to date has now surpassed the record 2014-15 campaign, when Chile exported over 21.7 million cartons or 103,081 tons of cherries.
“We estimate that Chilean cherries will continue to supply the Chinese market past Chinese New Year, which takes place on 16 February,” he said.
Tagle noted that the record exports have only been possible thanks to growers receiving favorable climatic conditions, particularly at the start of the season. However, he added that the achievement was also the result of hard work by producers and exporters, which had led to a greater planted area and an emphasis on better-tasting, more productive varieties, as well as the implementation of technologies that have enabled improved management and care of orchards.
ASOEX President Ronald Bown commented: “As we reach the record volume that we forecast, we have planned an important and intensive promotional campaign. The good news is we are ready and investing to boost consumption of these high volumes that are now a reality, particularly through promotional actions in China, which is the principle market for Chilean cherries.”
Of the 150,000 tons of Chilean cherries exported to date, some 89.1% was shipped to Asia, with China accounting for 94% of this total. In terms of other export destinations, the U.S. received 4.8% of the total volume, followed by Europe (2.4%), Canada (0.4%) and the Middle East (0.1%).
California vegetables are in a seasonal transition to more southern areas ranging from the Coachella and Imperial valleys, to the Yuma district….Also look for a big increase this season with Chilean cherries.
Western Vegetable shipments leading up to Thanksgiving have been modest at best, particularly for popular items such as romaine and the other lettuces as well as celery, broccoli and cauliflower.
As coastal California seasons for the various crops wind down, volume has been light, especially for romaine and broccoli. The meager supply situation will probably last at least through the week of December 15th. From Thanksgiving through Christmas produce shipments will be light as the transition has started to the California and Arizona deserts.
A side note is there are a lot more shipments of greens taking place than at other times of the year. These items range from kale, to chard, and collard greens, all of which are in the midst of a renaissance with consumers.
California and Arizona desert shipments ranging from lettuce, to peppers and cantaloupe – grossing about $5400 to Atlanta.
CHILEAN CHERRIES
Chilean cherry exports to North America could soar 45 percent this season. Total cherry exports from Chile should reach 100,00 tons in 2014-15. The South American country is bouncing back from a devastating freeze in 2013-14, which hit cherries and other fruits hard. Cherries will be available at U.S. ports in December and January.