Producers in Chile are facing the challenge of mitigating the recent damage to early cherry production caused by heavy rains in various regions of the country. According to Jorge Valenzuela, the president of the fruit producer federation Fedefruta, the impact of the rains has been particularly severe on early cherry varieties, resulting in losses ranging from 15% to 50% due to splitting. Fortunately, the later cherry varieties have not been affected.
The most significant damage has been reported in the Metropolitan and VII Regions, where a substantial decrease of at least 30-40% in fruit production has been observed. Valenzuela pointed out that the excessive moisture has saturated the soil, making it challenging to drain the affected farms due to the strain on the irrigation infrastructure.
In response to these challenges, Fedefruta is urging affected producers to apply fungicides and adhere strictly to phytosanitary programs to prevent further damage to their crops. They emphasize that soils have a limited capacity to absorb water, and some farms may face difficulties in addressing the waterlogged conditions.
Read the full article: Asiafruit
15 May 2026
Turkey’s cherry season is set for a strong rebound after last year’s frost damage: rested trees, flowering and good pollination point to satisfactory volumes, quality, and new commercial opportunities across Europe, East Asia and the Middle East for Turkish exporters in 2026.
02 Jun 2025
A study on postharvest treatments with calcium and silicon reveals how to improve firmness, color and acidity of Bing cherries grown in Mexico. The results show reduced weight loss and enhanced commercial and sensory quality of the fruit during cold storage.
29 Oct 2026
A recent study conducted in Chile investigated the germination potential of seeds from six commercial sweet cherry cultivars following exposure to environmental conditions representative of the export supply chain and the subsequent disposal of fruit in China.
29 Oct 2026
With an industry capable of exporting over 130 million crates, orchards continuing to reach full production and a potential labour shortage, the question is how to adapt the current business strategy.
