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Chilean cherries up and running

By
Keith Loria

Chile remains one of the largest fruit exporters in the world, sending more than 2.6 million tons of fruit annually to more than 100 countries across the globe.

As of mid-January, the country was in the heart of the Chilean cherry season and expects to have promotable volumes into February.

In fact, as of Jan. 5, Chile exported 15,021 metric tons of cherries to North America (more than 3 million boxes), which represents a 58 percent increase from what was sent to North American at the same time last year.

“We expect this to be a historic year in terms of volume and promotional investment,” said Karen Brux, managing director of Frutas de Chile North America (the former Fruits of Chile). “We have massive retail campaigns running from early January into mid-February. We’re implementing numerous in-store sampling programs to showcase the fantastic flavor of Chilean Cherries.”

For instance, a large chain is displaying bins, and others are running videos on in-store kiosks. Frutas de Chile is also working with large regional and national chains to communicate cherry usage and nutrition information online, and some Asian chains are partnering with the organization for Chinese New Year promotions, and it will be running its first-ever Instacart promotion in January.

“For consumer marketing, we’re partnering with several influencers to showcase what we call ‘winter’s sweet surprise,’” Brux said. “We’ve produced new videos and are investing in a significant online ad buy, both on our social media platforms and other mainstream sites. Our longstanding partnership with registered dietitian Annessa Chumbley continues, and she has made appearances on TV news programs in key cities for cherry consumption, talking about ways to incorporate cherries into a healthy new year.”

Chilean Cherry quality has been excellent this year, and the retail feedback Frutas de Chile has received so far this season has been overwhelmingly positive.

“We are excited to continue expanding cherry consumption in the winter months and establish Chilean Cherries as a high-demand fruit for both retailers and consumers,” Brux said.

Turning to blueberries, Chile has shipped 43,139 tons of blueberries through Week 1. This is 13 percent higher than last season at the same date, but 26 percent less than the 2022-23 season. The organic portion corresponds to 11 percent of the total volume exported so far, 12 percent more than the previous season but 30 percent compared to season 2022-23.

“The dominant varieties in the first week of 2025 were Legacy and Duke, with 47 percent and 19 percent, respectively,” Brux said. “Blue Ribbon followed with 9 percent as the main representative of the new varieties. New varieties account for 24 percent of the shipments to date.”

Meanwhile, the Chilean Grape season is just getting started. A total of 9,965 tons have been exported through Jan. 5, with 8,025 tons/400,051 boxes sent to the U.S.  Chile estimates exports of 65.9 million 8.2-kilogram boxes during the 2024-25 season.

“The industry is betting on those varieties that best respond to the tastes of consumers in international markets, especially the United States, the main destination for Chilean grapes,” Brux said. “Sixty-seven percent of table grapes that Chile exports this season will be new varieties.”

Table grape exports will be led by new white and red varieties, with 21.1 and 18.6 million boxes, respectively, achieving for the first time a greater total quantity of white than red. New black varieties will reach 4.1 million boxes.

“The three new red varieties with the most growth are: Candy Hearts, Jack Salute and Allison,” Brux said. “In green varieties, they will be Sweet Globe, Autumn Crisp and Arra 15. In new black varieties, the most important in volume are Sable Seedless, Sweet Favors and Sweet Sapphire.”

The stone fruit season is also just getting under way.

As of Jan. 5, Chile shipped 684,819 boxes of nectarines vs. 419,168 at the same time last season; 428,919 boxes of peaches vs. 328,652 the same time last season; and 81,558 boxes of plums vs. 64,405 at the same time last season.

“In total, Chile projects stone fruit exports of 39.1 million boxes, a 7 percent increase from last season,” Brux said. “Global nectarine exports are projected to reach 14.5 million boxes, a 25 percent increase from last season.”

Keith Loria

Keith Loria

About Keith Loria  |  email

A graduate of the University of Miami, Keith Loria is a D.C.-based award-winning journalist who has been writing for major publications for close to 20 years on topics as diverse as real estate, food and sports. He started his career with the Associated Press and has held high editorial positions at magazines aimed at healthcare, sports and technology. When not busy writing, he can be found enjoying time with his wife, Patricia, and two daughters, Jordan and Cassidy.

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