Long Term Optimism for Chilean Fruit

WASHINGTON - Mar 20/06 - SNS -- Plum, peach and nectarine production is expected to continue its recent decline in the coming season in Chile because of adverse weather, reports the U.S. agricultural attache for the country.

Mild temperatures and limited cold hours affected budding adversely and frost in early spring in important production areas will lower production for a second year in a row. Although these adverse weather conditions also affected cherry production, total output of cherries is estimated to increase as a significant amount of newly planted area is coming into production.

Cherry yields are being helped by the introduction of new varieties and the use of better and improved management technologies, cherry production area has expanded significantly both, in the north and the south.

Producers, by introducing more weather resistant varieties and planting these further south have expanded the production period. This is reflected in a prospective increase in the harvested area from 3,980 to 4,170 hectares. This should see production climb from 36,800 to 40,000 metric tons (MT).

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