While every year is challenging in cherry cultivation, it is clear that the 2022-23 season poses additional difficulties and challenges; and the Chinese New Year (CNY), which is 10 days early compared to 2022, brings with it one of the most challenging scenarios that the national cherry industry has had to face.
In addition to the logistical problems and restrictions caused by the pandemic, as well as high freight costs, there is the added challenge of being able to reach markets before the CNY or diversify markets, a task that cannot be done overnight and involves certain risks.
In Chile, production potential is increasing every year, and obviously export potential is increasing, where supply always has something to do with commercial responses. The quality and condition of the fruit at destination is undoubtedly fundamental, however, this season the main concern of Chilean producers is the commercial result they will have, considering that the Chinese holiday will be one of the earliest that has ever taken place.
The scenario is more or less clear: fruit that is safely harvested by December 10-12 has a real chance of reaching the Chinese market at the best time for pre-CNY sales. Anything harvested after this date, considering that freight is by sea, is fruit that is currently in commercial uncertainty for the Chinese market. Given this, the question arises: What strategies should be implemented in terms of cargo and cost regulation to deal with fruit from that time, considering the commercial strategies of each exporter, in order to expect the best possible results?
With regard to technical management, this was a year to make important adjustments in terms of load regulation, and this adjustment was practically the responsibility of the pruning strategy. It is always very important to study the pruning strategy very well, taking into consideration the tools available today that allow us to estimate what the intensity and technique will be, including the analysis and fertility of buds, the history of the orchard, etc. Currently, many producers and technicians are also making history with reserve analysis in the scions of each year for each situation, which in one way or another are building indicators to make the decision.
Nowadays, having very large fruit in very good condition and quality from that date, from December 15 onwards, can be a very good strategy to perhaps access other markets or another type of transport that can have a faster arrival to the Asian market. On the other hand, a good load regulation strategy always has benefits from the point of view of the economy in terms of production, since the cost per kilo is lower, because it is larger fruit and easier to harvest, the operational costs and costs of application programs, both phytosanitary and nutritional, can also be adjusted based on a stronger pruning to enhance some indicators. Therefore, this management always brings with it other benefits, and obviously not to mention the impact that a good load regulation has on the distribution of sizes, considering that definitely the size of the fruit, related to the distribution of sizes, is the indicator that most influences the commercial result.
This strategy is faced with a difficult season in terms of costs, labor, availability and rising fertilizer prices, factors for which it is proposed to create a different and, so to speak, more extreme strategy than other seasons in order to make it a year of lower costs to face what, until now, is an uncertain commercial season. It is essential in any scenario to understand that one must always respect and seek the productive potential of each orchard, because the most expensive thing in the entire operation is not achieving that productive potential. There are many mistakes that stem from wanting to save on inputs or technical management, however orchards cannot be left without management, since orchards with poor management are very difficult to recover. It is necessary to reiterate that the most costly thing is definitely not having the productive potential of each orchard, at the time in which it has to be harvested and in the condition in which it is to be harvested, that is the great defense of a cherry orchard today, assuming the different productive zones, because against that there are not many managements that can be carried out to move the harvest dates.
