Chilean cherry pickers reshape UK harvest with San Clemente's global model

An agricultural mobility program is bringing 120 Chilean workers to England, raising quality standards in cherry harvesting. Behind the success lies an international strategy that blends local production with South American know-how.

Chile and England: a growing fruitful alliance

Agrícola San Clemente, a well-established Chilean company with over 40 years of history, has found fertile ground in the United Kingdom to expand its influence. With 85 hectares directly cultivated in the Kent region, the company has become the leading cherry producer in the country, supplying some of the UK’s top supermarket chains.

This expansion is no coincidence but the result of a well-defined strategy that combines local production with direct shipments of Chilean fruit and, most importantly, the integration of skilled labor from South America.

The Chileans teaching the British how to harvest cherries

Since 2022, San Clemente has launched an innovative agricultural exchange program in partnership with UK-based Andrew Wallace, director of FGA Farming Ltd. The initiative has so far enabled 120 Chilean agricultural workers to temporarily relocate to the UK to take part in the cherry harvest. And the results speak for themselves.

"With 100 Chilean pickers, we’ve matched – and even exceeded – the performance we used to achieve with 300 workers of various nationalities, often lacking proper training," explained Wallace. The difference? Technique, precision, and in-depth knowledge of the fruit.

A program that changes lives (and harvests)

The project also has a deep human impact. For many of the workers involved, this is their first experience abroad. "I had never flown before. I feel nervous, but also incredibly excited," says Hernán Silva from the Santa Olga orchard in Araucanía.

Thanks to the program, participants can go through up to four harvest seasons in a single year: starting in Chile, continuing in the UK with cherries, and ending in other parts of Europe with apple picking.

The excellence of Chilean workers has not gone unnoticed. Some local producers, such as Sarah Neaves in Kent or the Gotham family in Scotland, have requested their support for late-season cherry varieties. In some cases, they’ve even asked them to stay through October.

A model worth exporting

According to Luis Chadwick, chairman of the board of San Clemente, this collaborative model is one to follow. “Our workers not only receive fair compensation but also gain an experience that enriches them both professionally and personally. This program helps them fulfill dreams and ambitions while generating significant economic returns.”

With an established presence in Peru and Colombia as well, Agrícola San Clemente continues to invest in a global agricultural vision where quality knows no borders – and Chilean cherries can thrive even in English fields.

Source: portalfruticola.com

Image credit: Agricola San Clemente

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