With eyes already set on Chinese New Year 2026, key players in the Chilean cherry industry gathered to reflect on how to ensure a successful season. The keyword? Focus entirely on product quality and delivery reliability.
Nearly 500 producers, exporters, and stakeholders in the Chilean cherry supply chain took part in the first edition of “Online Wednesday,” an event promoted by Fedefruta, which was held digitally last week.
The goal was clear: analyze the outcomes of the recently concluded season in order to lay the foundation for a successful 2026 campaign.
The discussion, moderated by Rodrigo Manasevic, executive director of Utilitas, highlighted a unanimous agreement: to stand out in an increasingly competitive and unpredictable market, the key lies in the fruit’s quality and its integrity upon arrival at its destination.
Felipe Rieutord, director of Fedefruta, emphasized the strategic importance of investing in post-harvest technology: “I bought a packaging machine because I believe in cherries. We can set ourselves apart by focusing on superior quality. Chinese consumers appreciate good products.”
Tomás Cartagena, export manager at Utilitas, reiterated the importance of careful logistics management: “Producing excellent fruit is not enough. It must arrive in optimal condition at its final destination.”
This mindset favors collaboration with reliable partners and conscious transport choices: “Better to earn a bit less but avoid losses. Relying on serious professionals is crucial.”
The Chilean experience offers valuable insights for Italian and European producers as well. In a global scenario where oversupply threatens to drive down prices, quality and logistical reliability become key to enhancing the value of products, especially in premium Asian markets.
Italy, with its varietal excellence and constantly evolving logistics, has the opportunity to strengthen its presence in non-EU exports by also looking at the successful strategies adopted in the southern hemisphere.
The 2026 season for Chilean cherries will be based on a simple equation: quality + safe arrival = commercial success.
A clear message that also resonates among European producers, who are now more than ever called to make a quality leap to win over the world’s most demanding global markets.
Source: fruitnet.com
Image source: PortalAgroChile
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