Posts Tagged “Chilean fruit”
When it seems the U.S. has fewer friends on the world stage, one exception continues to be the South American country of Chile. The United States enjoys a symbiotic relationship with Chile. The country ranks sixth among Florida’s top product export destinations, with over $3.9 billion in exports in 2011. Florida exports to Chile increased at a rate of 24.3 percent through October 2012.
The U.S. received 74 percent of total Chilean citrus exports in 2012.
And once that Chilean fruit arrives at an American port, you can bet it takes a truck to get it to the final destination.
Also in 2012, the U.S. imported fresh blueberries valued at nearly $419.8 million, a 12 percent increase from the previous year. Just over 50 percent of those fresh blueberries originated in Chile, which provides fresh blueberries to U.S. markets during the period of mid-November through January.
Canada shares a high demand for Chilean fruit with the U.S. According to a press release issued by Chilean Fresh Fruit Association in May 2013, Loblaws, a leading Canadian supermarket chain, increased its use of Chilean fruit by more than 20 percent during an import promotional period earlier in the year. Loblaws serves more than 14 million shoppers a week. It also has over a thousand stores across the entire Canadian territory.
There is also another issue to consider when thinking about the future relationship between the U.S. and Chile and other South American and Central American countries. Geographically they may be closer than other nations, like those of Asia or Europe, but fresh produce moves quickly today.
Produce haulers can expect less loading opportunities of Chilean fruit at U.S. ports this winter.
Freezing temperatures Sept. 17 and again a week later hit Chilean orchards with the worst cold since 1929 as temperatures plunged to 19 degrees F. for an average of seven hours.
Last year, Chilean fruit exporters sold about 282 million boxes of fruit to global markets, and for 2013-14, exports are expect to decline about 50 million boxes short of that level.
How much of Chile’s total fruit goes to the U.S. this season is still up the air. America took about 42 percent of Chile’s total grape exports a year ago. Imports of grapes from the South American country normally hit stride in January and continue for about three months.
The effect of the frost will mainly be in stone fruit, though grape volume could also be down an average of about 15 percent. Stone fruit is mostly peaches plums and nectarines, with much fewer apricots.
Early grapes will fare better than later-season grapes. If this holds true grape arrivals by boat at U.S. ports will probably be much lighter than usual in March.
Kiwifruit damage is rated very heavy, at close to 60 percent.
Further updates will be reported as they become available.