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.
The Fondecyt 2024 project, assigned by Professor Eduardo Fernández, will be implemented nationwide, with around 40 orchards and also with consultants and research centres related to the topic, creating a collaboration strategy directly applicable to their orchards.
Research in Moldova evaluated the impact of pruning date on fructification in cv. Kordia and Regina grafted on MaxMa 14. In Regina, 6.1% and 12.2% higher production was found when pruning was performed in July and early September.
A study on ‘Meizao’ sweet cherries shows that foliar 5-ALA at 100 mg/L increases fruit weight, color, sugars, nutraceutical compounds and aroma complexity by improving photosynthetic efficiency and stimulating the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in the fruit itself.
A 12.5% US tariff on Chilean cherries is squeezing margins and slowing diversification beyond China. Exporters are responding through bilateral talks, more efficient logistics, premium-grade fruit and faster growth in Vietnam, India, Indonesia and South Korea in 2026.