Generally, rain is expected and appreciated in Chile, especially due to the prolonged drought that has hit the country for more than a decade, but the front that hit the central zone, described as an “atmospheric river”, only left damage and tragedy. to its violent passage through the central area of ​​the country.

Infrastructure destroyed by floods, houses and villages affected, and above all, agricultural crops hit by the large volume of rainwater and hail that fell in such a short time in the area, is what can be prematurely observed.

The affected fruit

In conversation with the program “Campo al Día”, on SAGO radio in Osorno, Julia Pinto, Technical Manager of the Chilean Blueberry Committee, expressed her concern about the damage suffered in crops in the central and southern areas of the country, especially in the case of blueberries and fresh fruit exports.

How do you measure the negative effects of this atmospheric phenomenon in the sector?

• The truth is that from the point of view of the fruit in general, it is quite affected, not only the blueberries in a very specific area, but also other fruits, such as table grapes, which have had damage from a structural point of view, because not only have grapevines fallen, but the grape does not support much water and there was fruit that was being harvested. Obviously that fruit is split. Grapes are not a crop that is ready for water at this time, which is linked to potential rot.
  Currently there are temperatures over 20º that are going to be maintained in the coming days, and if we associate it with the humidity caused by the Front, we can clearly have possible rotting in the sector.
  Other crops, such as stone fruit, have been affected significantly as well, because in the same way they are split or bleached and then there is the issue of rotting.
  In the case of blueberries, we have specifically focused on making an assessment between Maule sur and the area of ​​Malleco or La Araucanía north. We are receiving reports from producers and exporting companies, who realize that all late varieties, from the areas closest to the mountain range, have been greatly affected. There is fruit that did indeed break. We have not yet fully quantified it, because each producer must make an evaluation of their fruit. Each has different levels of impact. But these days we will quantify how much the total loss of the sector will be.

“Obviously, all the fruit that was being harvested is fruit that is lost for the fresh export market. We must see the issue of cracks and potential decay ”, emphasizes the expert.

The season

Shipments for the Chilean season up to week 3 have reached 89 million kilos, of the more than 111 million kilos projected by the industry for this year, which means an advance of 80% with respect to the total volume and 3% increase compared to the 2019/2020 season.

"Some new varieties are beginning to be reflected, which begin to have a significant volume over millions of kilos and also the losses of others, which are retiring", clarifies Julia Pinto.