From apples, grapes, and the traditional cherries, Chilean fruits today occupy a special place on the tables of the most varied corners of the planet. What are the most exported Chilean fruits to the world? We present the top 5 of the fruits that today contribute to make Chile the "world's pantry".
Recognized for their quality, variety and, in recent years, for the sustainability of their production, fruits of Chilean origin have become a sought-after food in different corners of the world. The Chilean agri-food sector is one of the most dynamic in the national economy. Here are the 5 main fruits in which our country shines globally.
Cherries:
Whether for the traditional Chinese New Year celebration or simply for their sweet flavor, Chilean cherries are the number one among the main fruits exported by our country. Thanks to the fact that their season extends from October to January each year, they become a highly valued fruit in practically all markets, particularly during Christmas and New Year.
The Asian market, and mainly China, are positioned as the main destinations for this fruit, where of the 352,474 tons of cherries exported during 2021, 90% of the cargo went to the Asian giant, according to figures from Fruits from Chile.
Table grapes:
Grapes have been part of people's diet since prehistoric times. There are records of the oldest wine cellar in the world, dating back to 4,000 B.C., as well as archaeological remains of grape cultivation in the Middle East during the Bronze Age. In any case, today Chile is positioned as one of the main producers of this fruit in the southern hemisphere, where thanks to the climatic characteristics of our territory, it becomes an ideal country for its production: almost 30% of the territory destined to fruit cultivation is dedicated to grapes.
Currently, its cultivation is concentrated between the regions of Atacama and Coquimbo, although it is also observed along the entire central coast of our country. According to ASOEX, during the 2020 - 2021 season, the export volume of grapes was 536,448 tons, where North America received 50% of the shipments of this fruit, with the Red Globe, Crimson and Thompson Seedless varieties, followed by the Asian market (25.7%) and the European market (15.5%).
Apples:
As jams, compotes or simply in its natural format, the apple is one of the favorite fruits on Chilean tables, both for its versatility and ease of transport, as well as for its characteristic flavor and durability. Today, more than 40 varieties are exported from Chile to the world, with Europe (39%), Latin America (26.9%) and Asia (15.6%) being the main destination markets, with fruit coming mainly from the center-south of the country, from the O'Higgins region to the Los Lagos region.
According to information published by ASOEX, during the last season our country exported a total of 636,145 tons of apples to the world, which continues to consolidate its position as one of the main exporters in the southern hemisphere.
Blueberries:
With only 80 calories per cup, blueberries are a food rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, and are also one of the main fruits that we export to the world. Although the cultivation of blueberries in Chile has recent beginnings in the 80's, today our country has more than 15,600 hectares cultivated, being one of the main producers worldwide.
According to the latest version of the Chilean Bluberry Committee Crop & Export Report, although during the last 2020-2021 season there was an 8% decrease in production compared to the previous period, almost 106 thousand tons of fruit have been exported to the world this season, highlighting the markets of the United States, Holland, England and China.
Pears:
Constituting 10% of global production, in recent decades Chile has made its way as an important pear exporter in the southern hemisphere. Produced mainly in the Metropolitan, O'Higgins and Maule Regions, the volume of pears exported reached 122,138 tons, traveling mainly to Europe (49.3%) and Latin America (36%), according to Pro Chile's sector brand, Fruits from Chile.
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