Chile is one of the modern-day world leaders in food production. Its agri-food industry represents one of the main sources of national GDP. The country exports more than 100 different species of fruit alone, from apples, blueberries, citrus fruits, cherries, and grapes to kiwifruit, oranges, plums, and pears.
Chilean fruits are grown across almost the entire Chilean territory and in all its 16 regions, thanks to the work of more than 8,000 producers of all sizes. The industry’s activity is guided by strict protocols, which is key to maintaining sustainability, as well as achieving optimum quality in the final product.
In the first half of 2023, after China and the USA, the Netherlands is the third biggest world destination for Chilean fresh fruit - with shipments of US$ 166 million - and the United Kingdom lies fourth on that list - US$ 96 million. Chile supplies about 5% of the fruit consumed here.
Chilean berries in the UK
Chile’s supply of berries to Europe includes blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries. The sale of berries - both fresh and frozen - has increased significantly over the last few years in the UK in accordance with the changing habits of British consumers. To the United Kingdom, the shipment of fresh blueberries stands out, where the amounts exported in the first half of 2023 are close to US$ 27 million and frozen blueberries, with shipments of US$ 3 million.
Source: newcoventgardenmarket.com