Fedefruta, the Federation that represents all Chilean fruit producers, showed the United States Embassy in Chile what was called the "journey of the Chilean cherry" through the orchards and packing plants of the sector to destinations such as the North American one, where there is a special demand for this type of products.
The visit was organized by the president of Fedefruta, Jorge Valenzuela, and involved partners of the Federation in orchards in Chimbarongo and packing plants in Los Lirios, in the O'Higgins Region. This, so that the United States ambassador to Chile, Bernadette Meehan and her team led by the agricultural attaché Bret Tate, and the area director of APHIS, Kelsey Branch.
The tour with the U.S. Ambassador to Chile began at the Agrícola Altue cherry orchard of Fedefruta partner Jaime Carvajal and continued at the Los Lirios packing plant in Rucaray, where the North American authorities were able to observe the fruit selection and packaging process.
“We are celebrating the bicentennial of U.S.-Chile relations, and our fruit relationship is one of the most important we have,” said Ambassador Meehan. “We have a very strong relationship with the associations and we are always thinking about how we can further increase this relationship of mutual benefit to the people of both countries.”
Fedefruta President Jorge Valenzuela highlighted the importance of this activity with the following words: “First, we would like to thank the Ambassador and her entire team for coming to where the fruit is made. The United States is our most important partner, one of the most important. We are very grateful and very happy that the Ambassador and the team can see what is done in the fields, the day-to-day work, the farmers’ work and all their people.”
Although the main recipient of Chilean cherries is China, the export options for Chilean cherry producers are very attractive for export to the United States. "Shipments of this fruit have been growing at a rate of 100% to the North American market and we know that the options for further expansion are open," said Jorge Valenzuela. "Consolidating, attracting the attention of more consumers, making the fruit known from the orchard, is just one of the missions that producers have called us to, and we hope to be up to the challenge."
