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Chile: Major disruption in fruit supplies not anticipated

Saturday's magnitude 8.8 earthquake in Chile comes at the peak of harvest season for Chilean agriculture. Chile is the largest exporter of apples, peaches, avocadoes and berries in the Southern Hemisphere. A press release from the Chilean Exporters Association on Monday stated the fresh fruit industry is currently assessing the impact of the earthquake, but it is too early to tell what the long-term damage is. Early indications are that much of the industry has emerged with minimal damage. There could still be ramifications for importers of Chilean fresh produce.

The United States imported about $2 billion worth of agricultural products from Chile in 2008, according to federal trade officials.



John Pandol from Pandol Brothers based in Delano, CA. says that consumers may see a rise in prices in a few weeks time, for example grapes may double in price.

“Although it’s too early to measure the likely mid- to long-term impact of the earthquake on fruit supplies for export, initial reports are encouraging,” Ronald Brown, chairman of the board of Chilean Exporters, stated in a press release. “A number of the key packing facilities escaped with minimal damage and where roads and bridges are impassible, alternate routes are available. Because Chile has moved to the peak of the harvest season, a substantial volume of fruit is on the water headed for international ports. We do not anticipate major disruption in fruit supplies.”

Cindy Jewel of California Giant Berry Farms in Watsonville, CA said Monday that her company spent much of the weekend making sure business partners and employees were OK. California Giant gets a lot of blueberries from Chile at this time of year, as do a number of other local companies.

A statement on Naturipe’s Web site said: “Since the earthquake we have been in regular contact with our growers in Chile. What we know is that our colleagues and friends are safe but they are still attempting to get their communications and infrastructure in order ... we have sufficient inventories on hand to supply blueberries to consumers and will start sourcing from our growers in the United States in the coming months.”

The first effects will be felt in the US in about ten days time as there are still ships underway which departed before the earthquake. The ports were damaged in the quake but not enough to seriously stop trade.