Blueberries

The Chilean Blueberry Committee has announced the end of its 2012/13 season, describing the deal as “very difficult” on account of the weather.

Total exports came in at 86,676 tonnes, according to the final crop report compiled by iQonsulting, marking a 23 per cent increase on the previous season and a 9 per cent growth on the original estimate.

Although harvesting has now finished in the central south and south regions of the country, the Committee said some limited exports will be made in the coming weeks which will not alter the cumulative total to date.

The Committee attributed the difficulties of this season to the “accumulation of climatic and operational events” including high temperatures and rainfall which resulted in less control over predicting crops behaviour in terms of volume and quality.

Despite the challenges, the Committee assured that Chile has a “strong and dominant industry” as a global blueberry supplier and pledged commitment to facing up to the issues in order to help maintain the high value of Chilean fresh blueberries in international markets.

At the latter end of the season the Committee also unveiled its revamped website which is designed to facilitate the delivery of industry-geared information in a new format, with easy to navigate features and up-to-date news from the national and global markets.

“After four years after it was first launched, the Chilean Blueberry Committee, which currently brings together 80 per cent of the national industry, decided to update its website to make it more updated and with an easier access to relevant information industry,” explained the Committee’s manager Andrés Armstrong.

“On the new version of the website one can find information about issues related to the quality and condition of the fruit, food safety, promotion and marketing of Chilean blueberry in destination markets, actions aimed at efficiency and consistency in the industry.

“Its renovated format is a platform and an essential tool to keep the industry informed and up to date about news and fundamental facts,” Armstrong said.

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