The third version of the International Seminar on Primores Cherries has become a reference point for cherry production in the most arid areas and with the earliest production in the Southern Hemisphere. So much so that in its new edition it was attended by national and international attendees who participated in interesting presentations, led by important specialists.
“First of all, I am grateful for all the support we received. Many companies joined in and not to mention the motivated producers (…) it speaks of the dynamism that this sector is having in this area. New agents have also appeared and are joining in, many producers are converting their traditional varieties or traditional species, sorry, pisco grapes, some with almond trees, are changing to cherry. And obviously doing things in a better way, in terms of the choice of varieties, preparation of land, soil, the issue of rootstocks.”, commented Jorge Astudillo, co-founder of the Ovalle Primores Cherry Seminar.
The Casino & Resort in Ovalle was the meeting point for the cherry industry to analyze various topics related to the production of early cherries; an event that had a full program that included the following presentations: "Analysis of the 2023-2024 season in Ovalle"; "Use of microorganisms in the control of biotic and abiotic stress in cherry trees"; "Eco-solutions for sustainable agriculture"; "Challenges and opportunities for cherry production in warm winters"; "CODA strategy to standardize the exit from recess and sprouting of cherry buds"; "BloomFresh early cherry varieties"; "Present and future of fruit growing in the Coquimbo region"; "Post-harvest in cherries, a process of continuous improvement"; "Experiences and expectations of the first cherry processing plant in Ovalle"; "Sustainable salt management and water efficiency"; and "The cherry tree at the limit."
«We have finished, it has been an exhausting day, we have things to think about, to see the projections that we have as a fruit sector in the area and the perspectives that companies have regarding cherries; it is a crop that started recently, it is in its early stages, however it is noticeable that there is an increase in companies, the investments are high, before it was a gamble, now thank God it is a job that they do with conviction, the same companies are already increasing their surfaces and The public is interested, there is a great interest in people, we see it now, In this third year I believe "We increased the number of attendees by 30 percent," explained Aldo Morales, co-founder of the Ovalle Primores Cherry Seminar.
Exhibitors
The third edition of the international seminar featured twelve speakers, including Jorge Astudillo, Hugo Vidal, Victor Munoz, Enrique Rebaza, Jean Paul Joublan, Leonora Sepulveda, Eduardo Fernandez, Daniel Cea, Ignacio Bolumburu, Macarena Villasante, Francisca Barros and Eduardo Donoso.
«I think it is a very interesting opportunity to share and transmit to the people of Ovalle the experiences that are lived during the season, although they produce 0.5 percent of the surface area compared to the Chilean market, the cherry industry, but it is a beauty, it is the first impression that the Chinese market has of our fruit, therefore it is super important to come here, soak up their experience, how difficult it is for them to produce, to achieve a good finished product, to manage to reach the destination markets with this beauty and to be the letter of introduction that we have each season. commented Francisca Barros, specialist post-harvest consultant and co-founder of Trío Kimün.
Eduardo Donoso, who spoke about “Use of microorganisms in the control of biotic and abiotic stress in cherry trees”, referred to the importance of prime cherries and their impact on prices each year.
"The interesting thing about them starting early and with good quality cherries is that they generate a high price and that high price, in addition to being good for the farmers here, also raises the prices for the entire season for farmers in the rest of Chile," the specialist pointed out.
Jorge Astudillo, production manager of Agroindustrial Valle Arriba and co-founder of the seminar, also spoke at the event, providing a detailed “Analysis of the 2023-2024 season in Ovalle.”
«In this area, cherries have to be considered an ultra-early crop so that they have significant returns that justify the investment and the risk of being in a marginal area. The returns achieved are multiplied by four, even compared to the returns of the traditional cherry area. So, obviously what Ovalle offers today is an alternative for good use of water and climate so that it is, in essence, one of the few alternatives for economic sustainability for the environment, let's say, for the industry,» Astudillo commented.
The event brought together more than 320 attendees, who participated in the interesting exhibitions and also interacted with nearly 100 companies, including suppliers, exporters and producers, who took part in the third International Seminar on Prime Cherries of Ovalle.
«This has been the effort of a group of people behind this important seminar; obviously, I would like to thank the entire Susttex team behind this event, the companies that support this seminar as well, the sponsors, the exhibitors who immediately accept the invitations and are willing to offer their knowledge, and the general public who participate. In other words, the fact of having an invitation, of having the hall full, full, speaks of the fact that what we are offering is a very good product. And as a producer, of course, I also, in some way, direct the talks towards an interest as a producer where we want to hear specific answers. For this reason, the selection of these exhibitors may be strange for those who produce cherries in the south. In other words, what we achieve here is, as the motto says, to build a reality together, and that reality is possible, which is the early cherry.", concluded Jorge Astudillo, co-founder of the seminar.
