Chile’s early grape producers are increasingly concerned about labour issues as the harvest start date approaches.

Growers in the Copiapó valley are getting ready to start picking on November 18, but are having difficulty in attracting workers. According to the producers and exporters association of the Copiapó valley, Apeco, economic conditions in the central and southern areas of Chile have improved to the extent that these traditional sources of seasonal labour are drying up.

Producers and packers in northerly Copiapó are doing everything they can to attract workers, including building swimming pools and casinos, but are still concerned whether enough labour will arrive.

The situation is further aggravated by the weakness of the dollar against Chile’s peso.

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