After nearly 25 years of bilateral talks and negotiations, Chile has obtained approval of a systems approach protocol for shipping table grapes to the U.S. We will be able to export grapes from the regions of Atacama, Coquimbo, and part of Valparaíso to the United States without the need to fumigate with methyl bromide from the start of our upcoming 2024-25 season.
This is tremendous news for the industry, and I cannot begin to express my appreciation to those who have worked tirelessly to achieve this for the Chilean table grape industry. From President Boric, to the Minister of Agriculture, Esteban Valenzuela, to the Under-Secretary for International Economic Relations, Claudia Sanhueza, the support we have received throughout this journey has been incredible.
It’s as simple as this: Chile needs a systems approach to boost the competitiveness of our grapes in the global market. Not only will it enable our fruit to arrive in better condition, but it will also remove the additional cost of fumigation. Being able to compete on equal terms with other origins is a game changer for our industry.
Someone recently showed me an article from a 1986 edition of the NY Times, which outlined what Chile was doing to secure a place in the American market. In the article, the head of the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association (ASOEX, which has been renamed as Frutas De Chile) stated, ‘’To sell in the United States, it is very important that the grapes not have seeds.’’ Well, there’s a lot more required at this stage of the game.
Chile essentially built the market that now exists for wintertime grapes, but the landscape has changed. To maintain our leadership position, we must provide the best-tasting, highest-quality fruit to our consumers. We’ve seen tremendous movement forward in the past several years, with the industry increasingly growing and shipping what the markets want, but the systems approach—a series of measures taken by growers, packers and shippers that minimize pest risks—is a key puzzle piece that we are thrilled to finally have in place.
In the recent 2023-24 season, Chile exported 64 million boxes of table grapes, and 40 million (60%) went to the United States, of which 15 million came from the regions that are now free from the fumigation requirement. It is our hope and our belief that the systems approach will encourage more plantings in the Atacama and Coquimbo regions and stimulate economic growth in those areas.
Copiapó Valley used to have nearly 7,000 hectares of table grapes, while today it has around 4,800. Well, things are looking up. Not only do we now have a systems approach for grapes, but we also have a better water supply from rains and advancements in the water infrastructure for the north of Chile. We hope all these factors combined will catapult production in this region from 15 million boxes to 25 million, all of which could be shipped to the U.S. without fumigation.
In 2023, Chilean grape exports totaled US$905 million, reaching 72 destinations around the world. Shipments to the United States alone totaled US$431 million. The importance of the U.S. market to Chile is undeniable, and we greatly value the partnerships that we’ve developed over the years. The approval of a systems approach is a great win for all of us.
As for what lies ahead, we all know the unpredictable nature of the fresh produce business. But I’m confident that the Chilean table grape industry is on the right path, and that we are taking all necessary steps to ensure a successful future for our growers, exporters and customers.
- Ivan Marambio is the president of Frutas de Chile, a non-profit representing Chilean fruit growers and exporters.
