“We plan for our blueberry production to be 100% organic by 2021/2022”
This year, Chile has had 70% less rainfall than the average and producers are experiencing many problems with their crops due to drought. Mondasol is a Chilean producer whose main products are blueberries and cherries. Cherries are mainly exported to China, but blueberries are exported to different countries 23. The company produces multiple varieties of blueberries, such as Ventura, Suzyblue from Fall Creek Nursery, Emeral, Duke and Legacy.
Jorge Salgado, general director of the company, expresses: "Irrigation has become a big problem for farmers. It has even been suggested to leave 50% of a farm unirrigated so that the other 50% can get more water. I think that in the summer months, from January to March, Chile will have some serious problems with irrigation, which will affect not only blueberries and cherries, but also table grapes, peaches and other fruits and vegetables." .
Fortunately, Mondasol has not experienced significant damage to its crops, as Jorge explains that the company uses specific water saving techniques to combat drought: “We have mulch in the soil between our crops, which helps reduce water evaporation and He keeps it on the ground. We have also built dams and wells that are helpful during the summer months and use the latest irrigation technology. In addition, we give 80% of what is necessary to conserve water. ” Despite irrigation problems, the company still expects to reach 1.200-1.500 tons of blueberries this season, which will be exported to the United States, Europe, the Far and Middle East.
Mondasol has packaging machines in three different locations in Chile, in the north, center and south of the country, allowing it to produce six months a year. The company is BRC and HACCP certified and works closely with EcoCert for its organic certification. Jorge continues: “Currently we produce 50% organic and 50% conventional, but we are working to become 100% organic, which we hope to achieve by the 2021-22 season. All our exports to South Korea and Japan are already organic, even if it is not indicated on our boxes. At Mondasol, we see organic production not only as a process, but as a way of thinking, a way of life and as the future of agriculture”.
One of the reasons Mondasol is putting so much effort into its organic products is to stand out from the competition. “Peru is Chile's main competitor, and it has been offering very good quality, which is bad for the Chilean markets. Many producers in Chile have decided that they need to reduce their volume and focus more on their quality, because if Chile does not make changes, the markets will not be able to compete with Peru. Some buyers prefer Peruvian products over Chilean ones, and that's one of the reasons we focus on organic: the product is higher quality, stronger, and tastes better. Our customers prefer it, even when they don't know it's ecological”, concludes Jorge.
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