Chilean fruit losses triple after heavy rains

Volumes (in Kg) of table grapes in the US Market during the 2020 Chilean season

Source: USDA Market News via Agronometrics.
(Agronometrics users can view this chart with live updates here)

“At first, the rains caused splitting damages, falling fruit, trees, grapevines, being estimated at $150 million. But as the weeks passed, the damage to the fruit has increase a lot. The rot and fungi have advanced due to the humidity and temperature, resulting in table grapes not being harvested or packed in the central region,” Valenzuela said in a statement on the Fedefruta website.

While all table grape varieties have some damage, it is estimated that the central to southern regions will incur losses of 70-80 percent in white table grapes and 30 percent in red grapes.

Within the Valparaiso region, the Aconcagua Valley already reports 42 percent less production when compared to the same period last year.

Volumes (in Kg) of table grapes from Chile in the US Market

Source: USDA Market News via Agronometrics.
(Agronometrics users can view this chart with live updates here)

There is no certainty on how growers are going to harvest varieties such as Scarlotta, Crimson, and Red Globe in the O’Higgins region.

“Today it would be very optimistic to thing that we will be able to harvest 30-40 percent,” Valenzuela said.

“Without working capital there is no way to meet the commitments of this season nor how to start the next,” he said. “We are in need of a financial rescue for producers in the fruit sector.”

Valenzuela said Fedefruta is working on a proposal to bring financial help to a wider range of fruit producers affected by the rains.

The News in Charts is a collection of stories from the industry complemented by charts from Agronometrics to help better tell their story.

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