Since its founding in 1982, Gourmet Trading Co., headquartered in Redondo Beach, CA, has grown to become a leading importer and distributor of fresh fruits and vegetables.

The company operates on the principle that cultivating relationships is as important as cultivating produce. It partners with the finest growers in South America and Central America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and the United States in order to consistently deliver the best produce to its customers.Blueberries growing in Chile for Gourmet Trading Co.

Luciano Fiszman, blueberry category manager for the company, said that conventional, organic and biodynamic blueberries are currently arriving from Chile.

“We start in October, where harvest kicks off in the 5th Region located in the north of Santiago,” said Fiszman. “Then we go through April as we harvest blueberries in Chile through the 10th Region in the southern part of the country.”

He explained that this season, from October through January, the Chilean blueberry market fared well. The market was excellent with great pricing and fantastic rotation.

“The market in February was full of fruit from Chile; however, the quality was not the best and it took some time to move the inventory,” Fiszman said. “Now the market is in great shape again and transitioning into domestic production. The market is eager for a fresh crop and we are pleased with our Southeast program, which is kicking off now.”

El Niño has affected the Chilean blueberry crop this season — which Fiszman said delayed start times.

“It caused concentrated volumes during the harvest of January, which made greater arrivals than ever before by vessel into the market in February,” he explained. “Quality was mixed as well. We saw more mold than in years past due to rains in the Central Region. There was a lot of soft fruit affecting the market in February, causing a slower rotation on store shelves.”

Fiszman added that the season is finishing quite rapidly, also due to effects of the weather system.

“It has been a season with challenges in Chile, as well as in the overall market,” he said. “It hasn’t been easy this year.”

Gourmet Trading receives product on both the east and west coasts. It services customers through its warehouses in Miami, New Jersey and Los Angeles.

“We have distribution nationwide and also in Canada,” said Fiszman. “And although we dabble in a bit of every customer category, our primary customers are retailers.”