Facility will handle the growing volume of fruit being shipped to US under a systems approach
Frutas de Chile has welcomed a government decision to approve the construction of a new phytosanitary inspection site for agricultural products destined for the US. The site will be located in the Coquimbo Region near the port and with direct connections to the main fruit producing areas.
The facility is expected to lead to an increase in exports without the need for methyl bromide fumigation.
Phytosanitary inspection at origin (systems approach) has been key to boosting fruit exports to the US, especially for products such as citrus, avocados, pomegranates, and blueberries. Last year, after two decades of negotiations, table grapes were incorporated into this system, marking a milestone for the export sector.
However, it also presents a challenge for the Sag, the country’s plant and animal health authority, which must ensure it has the capacity needed to inspect a growing volume of fruit destined for the US.
Sag’s regional director, Jorge Fernández, commented: “We currently inspect nearly 5mn boxes of fruit, but this figure is growing every year, both due to the dynamism of the sector and the increase in products requiring inspection at source. Therefore, it is essential to have adequate facilities that allow us to respond to this growing demand”.
Forecasts indicate that approximately 11mn cartons of table grapes destined for the US could be inspected from production originating in the Coquimbo Region. This, combined with the current volume of grapes being inspected and the increase in citrus exports from the region, will increase the demand for inspections under this mechanism in the coming years.
Fruits of Chile representative Cristian Sotomayor said: “This is a long-awaited initiative for the entire regional fruit sector, as it will allow for greater capacity for the inspection of fruit destined for the US market, which is undoubtedly the main export destination for this region.
“Furthermore, it will allow for the provision of inspections for all fruit species requiring inspection under the Systems Approach. Its operation will extend practically year-round, which will have a very significant impact in terms of economic benefits for the agricultural export chain, facilitating access under better commercial conditions and ensuring fruit of higher quality and condition”.
The current inspection site, located in Pan de Azúcar, is operating at capacity limits, with no possibility of expansion to meet the growing demand of the export sector.
