News about Chile

Cherries: a structural problem?

Production

11 May 2026

The global alcohol industry is changing course while Chilean cherries enter a new phase. More selective consumption, a slower Chinese market and rising quality expectations push both sectors to adopt stronger strategies to protect value and global leadership.

Decoding plant stress responses: molecular and physiological insights under combined stress

Tech management

08 May 2026

The study on Santina and Bing in Chile, Argentina and Italy examines how sweet cherry responds to Pseudomonas syringeae and water stress, highlighting genes, photosynthesis, molecular defenses and varietal selection for more resilient fruit crops under climate change today.

Pitting: research to understand the damage that affects cherry quality

Post-harvest​

06 May 2026

PUCV research in Chile studies surface pitting in cherries, a defect that affects fruit quality, market value and cold storage. The project examines varieties, cell walls, membranes and water balance to reduce losses in exports to China and improve postharvest quality.

The scale dilemma and the value of Chilean cherries in the Chinese market

Markets

04 May 2026

Chilean cherries are facing a decisive shift in China: protecting their premium positioning, managing rising export volumes and turning technical quality into a shared industry standard to safeguard value, reputation and long-term profitability in the Chinese market.

Genome sequencing and assembly in sweet cherry: new opportunities for breeding

Breeding

30 Apr 2026

New genomic assemblies for sweet cherry cultivars Santina and Regina in Chile reveal high-quality sequences, genetic variability, and key loci such as S and DAM. Findings support breeding, climate adaptation, and innovation in modern cherry production.

Botrytis can be much more aggressive than Alternaria in cherry blossoms and fruit

Crop protection

29 Apr 2026

In Chile, the Check Fast Cherry system shows that Botrytis is more aggressive than Alternaria on cherry flowers and fruits. The 48-hour rapid test detects infections in real time and identifies new fungal species, supporting more effective disease control strategies.

Claudia Soler: "The future of Chilean cherries does not lie in volume, but in promoting a fruit of superior quality"

Events

28 Apr 2026

The Chilean cherry sector shifts strategy: less rapid growth, more focus on quality, logistics and reputation. The Chinese market is more demanding, while the industry targets higher standards and diversification to sustain value.

The new bicolor variety Cheery Glow is gaining ground in Chile: the rollout begins with 200 hectares

Varieties

24 Apr 2026

Cheery Glow, Bloom Fresh’s early cherry, is expanding in Chile with 200 hectares. Low chill requirement, high quality and up to 60 days storage make it ideal for export to China, Europe and the United States, helping growers face climate challenges and competitive global markets.

The Paclife conference on cherries: integration is needed between science, post-harvest handling and the market

Events

24 Apr 2026

Paclife Conference 2026 focuses on cherries, postharvest, automation and global markets, highlighting how data, innovation and integrated logistics are crucial drivers to ensure quality, competitiveness and value across the Chilean and international export supply chain.

Chile and Spain: the cherry battle in China

Markets

22 Apr 2026

Chile strengthens its dominance in cherry exports to China, but the 2025–2026 season shows a price drop of over 30%. Spain’s entry into the Asian market introduces new competition, as demand remains strong but the product’s positioning continues to evolve.