Chilean apples underway, and like kiwi, the season looks good
Chilean apples underway, and like kiwi, the season looks good
As the Chilean kiwifruit season moves into gear in April, Chilean apples are already in stride and movement is good.
Tom Tjerandsen, managing director of the Chilean Fresh Fruit Association, based in Sonoma, CA, said that more than a third of Chile's fresh-apple exports to the United States are the Gala variety. About 16 percent, or 6.5 million boxes, each, are Granny Smith and Red Delicious. Braeburn, Red Chief and Fuji rank next with about 5 percent each of the total export volume.
Chile exports 44 different apple varieties to Europe; the United States receives about 30. "Europe is the continent that far and away is the leader in" Chilean apple "volume and variety," said Mr. Tjerandsen. "The really odd items they are interested in. There is not a big market for Winesaps in the U.S., but they sure go after them in England."
Chilean apple volume to the United States is expected to be about 15 percent above the 41 million boxes received last season. There is a "wide variety of reasons" for this. "The harvest quality this year is particularly good, so the receivers getting them are finding a strong market when they arrive," said Mr. Tjerandsen.
His sense is that Washington apple shippers had a short harvest, so they are not as anxious to move their storage crop, which "opens the door for fresh apples" from Chile. "The technology is in place that allows a shipper to provide fruit that already has had a birthday. It still looks pristine." Because of that, Washington shippers "have not panicked and started dumping large volumes into the marketplace."
Ron Dandrea of Dandrea Produce in Buena, NJ, confirmed that the Chilean apple deal "had a nice early start," adding, "There have been steady supplies and a mixed range of sizes." The sizing of some Chilean apple-growing districts is yielding "ample large apples as well as smaller," he said. "Some areas are down a little on the size." Rain later in the growing season "will enhance the color," he added. "The quality looks very good. I see no major changes for the rest of the year."
Mr. Dandrea was receiving Galas when he spoke to The Produce News March 22. "We'll have Grannys in 10 to 14 days in small amounts, and that will increase thereafter. We'll be into Pink Ladies in May and June and into August." The Chilean apple deal "this looks like a steady production year, unlike last year."
Nick Pacia of A.J. Trucco Inc., a kiwifruit importer and marketer based at the Hunts Point Terminal Market in the Bronx, NY, expects to receive the season's first Chilean kiwi about April 15. He said March 22 that it was early too early to talk about condition, but he said that there will probably be "a little more volume" than a year ago. "The size is medium to small, like 33 to 36." He expected arrivals to "come in with no problems," he said. "The season is on time with no delays. All seems to be OK with the crop and quality."
Mr. Pacia said that the Italian kiwi deal will end in mid-April, and New Zealand kiwi arrivals will begin as Chile winds down in late July.
"Overall, it was a good season" for Italian kiwi, Mr. Pacia noted.
(For more on Chilean apples and kiwis, see the April 2 issue of The Produce News.)
Tom Tjerandsen, managing director of the Chilean Fresh Fruit Association, based in Sonoma, CA, said that more than a third of Chile's fresh-apple exports to the United States are the Gala variety. About 16 percent, or 6.5 million boxes, each, are Granny Smith and Red Delicious. Braeburn, Red Chief and Fuji rank next with about 5 percent each of the total export volume.
Chile exports 44 different apple varieties to Europe; the United States receives about 30. "Europe is the continent that far and away is the leader in" Chilean apple "volume and variety," said Mr. Tjerandsen. "The really odd items they are interested in. There is not a big market for Winesaps in the U.S., but they sure go after them in England."
Chilean apple volume to the United States is expected to be about 15 percent above the 41 million boxes received last season. There is a "wide variety of reasons" for this. "The harvest quality this year is particularly good, so the receivers getting them are finding a strong market when they arrive," said Mr. Tjerandsen.
His sense is that Washington apple shippers had a short harvest, so they are not as anxious to move their storage crop, which "opens the door for fresh apples" from Chile. "The technology is in place that allows a shipper to provide fruit that already has had a birthday. It still looks pristine." Because of that, Washington shippers "have not panicked and started dumping large volumes into the marketplace."
Ron Dandrea of Dandrea Produce in Buena, NJ, confirmed that the Chilean apple deal "had a nice early start," adding, "There have been steady supplies and a mixed range of sizes." The sizing of some Chilean apple-growing districts is yielding "ample large apples as well as smaller," he said. "Some areas are down a little on the size." Rain later in the growing season "will enhance the color," he added. "The quality looks very good. I see no major changes for the rest of the year."
Mr. Dandrea was receiving Galas when he spoke to The Produce News March 22. "We'll have Grannys in 10 to 14 days in small amounts, and that will increase thereafter. We'll be into Pink Ladies in May and June and into August." The Chilean apple deal "this looks like a steady production year, unlike last year."
Nick Pacia of A.J. Trucco Inc., a kiwifruit importer and marketer based at the Hunts Point Terminal Market in the Bronx, NY, expects to receive the season's first Chilean kiwi about April 15. He said March 22 that it was early too early to talk about condition, but he said that there will probably be "a little more volume" than a year ago. "The size is medium to small, like 33 to 36." He expected arrivals to "come in with no problems," he said. "The season is on time with no delays. All seems to be OK with the crop and quality."
Mr. Pacia said that the Italian kiwi deal will end in mid-April, and New Zealand kiwi arrivals will begin as Chile winds down in late July.
"Overall, it was a good season" for Italian kiwi, Mr. Pacia noted.
(For more on Chilean apples and kiwis, see the April 2 issue of The Produce News.)
