Chile, table grape production begins

A good table grape crop with growth in some varieties is forecasted for Chile as production gets underway in the Central Valley, the Country’s most important grape-growing zone.
Santiago-based fruit industry service provider Decofrut has predicted an overall deal of 854,000 tons for this season, an increase of 6 percent on 2006-2007.
Decofrut Analyst Karen Jones said: “Table grape production in the Central Valley, for this season, is comparable to any normal year, not taking into account potential climatic problems that could affect output”.
“Volumes are expected to be higher than last season’s, and this can be explained in part by the contribution of vineyards that are still developing as well as by the recuperation of those vineyards affected last season by adverse climatic conditions”.
The Black Seedless is expected to perform particularly well, with increases of 150 and 81% in the Third Region and Metropolitan Region respectively. For the best-selling Thompson White Seedless, increases are expected to range from 4%, in the Metropolitan Region, to 15%, in the Third Region.
The good news follows the setbacks experienced by southern hemisphere’s No. 1 fresh fruit exporter that affected the harvesting schedule in its northernmost production areas Copiapó and Coquimbo.
Chilean table grapes are typically available from the end of November through August. In 2006-2007 table grapes represented 32% of the Country’s overall fresh fruit deal.