Roxane Flores, Director of Human Capital Development and Regulatory Affairs at AFIPA, shares her visit with Cristián Osorio, a cherry grower from Coltauco, and together they discuss the main challenges that Chilean farmers face in bringing their cherries to international markets.
AFIPA Chile, Asociación Nacional de Fabricantes e Importadores de Productos Fitosanitarios Agrícolas A.G., is the group of companies that represents the crop science and protection industry.
Since 1991, AFIPA Chile has been supporting small and medium-sized farmers across the country, helping them implement Good Agricultural Practices for the responsible management of crops and pests and the triple washing, collection, and subsequent recycling of empty phytosanitary containers, with the aim of developing an increasingly productive and sustainable agriculture.
AFIPA Chile is a member of Croplife Latin America, which brings together 25 associations from 18 countries. Croplife Latin America is part of Croplife International, which encompasses the entire crop science sector operating on five continents and adheres to the FAO Codes of Conduct.
In Patagonia, Frutos del Valle Patagónico produces up to 1 million kg of cherries per year, with 800,000 kg exported to China, the US and the Middle East. Quality, technology and expansion plans drive steady growth in a highly competitive global market dominated by Chile.
We were able to export significant volumes, especially to China, where we have exported 373,484 tonnes so far, says Claudia Soler. We identified 24 cities as the geographical focus, and the target group of the campaign was also segmented.
Spring rains in Chile have split early cherries in the north, while damage in O’Higgins, which accounts for over 80% of production, remains marginal so far. Growers are monitoring fungal disease, saturated soils and potential impacts on Chile’s 2026/27 cherry crop.
Da 14 anni, il PMGCe della PUC in Cile seleziona varietà precoci di ciliegio, a basso fabbisogno in freddo e resistenti a caldo, siccità e cracking. Tre selezioni avanzate e 1.000 individui sono valutati in quattro siti: l’obiettivo è registrare una varietà entro il 2030.