The Chilean Fruit Exporters Association and its Blueberry Committee have continued to monitor the evolution of the research process for blueberries imported by the United States.

Ronald Bown, President of ASOEX, indicated that it should be clarified that the investigation process has not yet begun, which has taken a little longer than the specialists expected.

"The delay may be due to the fact that together with the Florida and Georgia producer associations, the States of California, Oregon, Michigan and Washington have now joined in supporting this cause, in addition to considering including frozen blueberries, which are not it is contemplated in the report of the USTR (Office of the United States Trade Representative) ”, specified the leader of the fruit exporters.

For his part, Felipe Silva, President of the ASOEX Blueberry Committee, pointed out that during the previous week, working meetings have been held with authorities from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture and the Economy, in order to coordinate the defense of the Chilean blueberry . "At the same time, we are jointly evaluating different legal representation offices and we must define in the coming days who will advise us in this process," Silva said.

Both officials agreed that it is clear that imports of fresh blueberries from Chile to the US market have very little coincidence with the period of local production, apart from the fact that exported volumes, contrary to growing, have shown a clear downward trend. In the last two seasons, and apart from other factors, they are facts that show a minimum damage of our exports to local producers and that, rather, have been fundamental to increase consumption in that country in the last 20 years.

Bown stressed that it is highly probable that the possible measures to protect the interests of local producers that derive from this process will be implemented after the end of the current Chilean blueberry season, although there is a small possibility that these could be implemented in advance.

Finally, Felipe Silva revealed that the Blueberry Committee has joined the so-called "Blueberry Coalition for Progress and Health" in which companies and associations from different countries that export blueberries to the US participate, as well as local retailers and others. stakeholders interested in maintaining trade and the development of this industry.