The Lunar New Year is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated events on the Asian continent. However, in recent years it has taken on great significance in Chile. The cherry has become a very popular product in the Chinese market, which is becoming increasingly friendly towards Chile.
Quelen Fruit has not remained indifferent to this phenomenon and, during the month of January, part of its management team experienced first-hand the journey that its cherries take to reach the end consumer in China. Raúl Orellana, technical manager for quality and post-harvest and member of the delegation, talks about his experience in China and how it prepares the company for the coming season.
What was the purpose of this trip to China?
Quelen Fruit always sends personnel to inspect the fruit at its destination. As technical manager, my role is to be present in China, where we interact with our customers. The most important thing is to observe how the cherries arrive and how the different labels we have there perform.
How do you evaluate the performance of our labels?
Over the last two years we have been working to promote our Fénix brand. The feeling is that we have made significant progress and that our premium label - Fénix - is positioning itself as one of the best on the market.
What conclusions can be drawn from last season?
In terms of experience, this year has been positive. Our customers see that we are making progress in the volume and quality of our fruit. This work has taken time, but it has helped us to understand what the Chinese customer is looking for, which is consistency. So far we have managed to maintain this consistency from start to finish.
To what do you owe these results?
The most important thing in the cherry season is planning and we, as a company, are following this plan. The operations area and all areas in general have implemented a training plan during the year, which has enabled us to tackle the season optimally.
How are you planning for the coming season?
We aim to continue increasing our production volume. Chile is expected to grow in volume and we want to keep up with this growth. We have big challenges ahead of us because, besides increasing our capacity, we have to maintain the consistency and quality of our fruit.
Source: Quelen Fruit®
01 Oct 2025
Alternaria alternata is rapidly spreading in sweet cherries from Haidian district, Beijing. The study highlights severe rot, toxin production, and urgent need for effective post-harvest strategies and fast monitoring to ensure food safety across the cherry supply chain.
28 Jul 2025
The Washington Cherry Marketing Committee proposes updates to cherry sizing and packaging standards, but USDA approval is stalled. Political pressure and regulatory gridlock hinder innovation, crop insurance protection, and the competitiveness of the cherry sector.
29 Jan 2026
In Oregon’s Columbia Gorge, growers are reviving Royal Ann cherry orchards for processing. With lower risks and stable returns, this approach brings back a historic fruit industry focused on maraschino, glacé, and ingredient-grade cherries in the U.S. market.
29 Jan 2026
A genomic study identifies 38 AKR genes in sweet cherry, key to drought, salinity, and hormonal stress responses. The findings offer new opportunities for breeding resilient cultivars, vital for climate adaptation and increased crop stability and yield.
