For Macfrut 2023 it was an honour to host during the WS cherry tree Prof. Marlene Ayala of the Catholic University of Chile, the person in charge of the main genetic improvement project on the cherry tree, started in 2010 and carried out in the largest cherry exporting country in the world, as well as the third largest cherry producer in the world and, so far at least, among the first importers of technological and varietal innovations.
Thanks to PMGC, the breeding programme supported by ASOEX - Consorcio Tecnologico de la Fruta and CORFO, a group of Chilean fruit producers and exporters, by 2030 Chile will be able to grow its own varieties and, probably, start exporting not only cherries but also new plant patents!
Below is the video of the report presented at Macfrut 2023.
The 2025-26 Chilean cherry season kicks off with an air shipment to New York. Crunchy, sweet, high-quality fruit sets the tone. Forever Fresh targets the US market to reduce reliance on China and strengthen winter exports with premium, carefully selected varieties.
‘It cannot be said that prices are soaring. Drosophila suzukii has destroyed many volumes, accentuating this phenomenon,' explains Jérémie Becciu. If prices were quite high at the beginning of the season, they are now quite reasonable: between EUR 2.5 and EUR 4 per kilo.
Managing processing times means ensuring that fruit moves from harvesting to cooling with as few interruptions as possible. The aim is to reduce waiting, balance capacity across the different stages, prevent accumulation and identify bottlenecks before they compromise fruit condi
Although lower production may put upward pressure on prices, the extent of any increases will depend on demand, existing supplies and supplier-specific market conditions.