The activity took place in the commune of Chimbarongo.
After 25 to 28 days of cold storage, ANA Chile opened boxes of Nimba CV cherries from the post-harvest of the towns of Melipilla and Paine.
Lorena Pinto, product manager for pome and cherry fruit at ANA Chile, referred to this initiative as an idea to simulate a sea shipment, which was previously carried out with a storage period of 15 to 17 days with very good results, but on this occasion extending the time margins.
“We want to compare what good Nimba management is in terms of loading, fertilization and what results can be generated. Although Nimba is a very early variety from late October to early November, this opening provides a little more peace of mind in case producers do not manage to find enough space for the fruit to be shipped and have to send it by boat,” said Lorena Pinto.
For his part, Eduardo Polanco, technical manager for pome and cherry trees at ANA Chile, said: “We opened two varieties here, in the Melipilla and Paine areas, an opportunity that allows us to continue getting to know a new variety, exposing it to the limit, which is what is important. Not only showing the prettiest, but also seeing beyond, how it can behave beyond what is normal. Taking it out of its comfort zone and showing a fruit that can be stored for many more days, in what is supposed to be an early variety.
Polanco also provided hard data on the time the boxes spent in storage and that they were opened during the day.
“The Melipilla test was a trial of 10 plants in MaxMa 14 and another 10 in Colt, from 2019, in which after 30 days they gave us Durofel over 80, with a Brix over 18, with a color of 3.5, very firm, crunchy and sweet fruit. Meanwhile, in the case of the Nimba variety cherries from Paine, there is a slightly larger caliber 33-34, a good Brix, over 17, but with a color more loaded with red. Good firmness, over 80 Durofel and a good opening", argued the technical chief.
It is worth noting that this initiative aims to inform producers of this variety on how to obtain its greatest potential, observing the behavior after its agronomic management and treatments in the field and post-harvest, to finally let attendees know how the fruit would arrive at its destination, in a simulation of a sea voyage.
