Chile seals deal to export nectarines to China

SANTIAGO - Chilean Agriculture Minister Carlos Furche announced on Tuesday that his country has signed a deal with China to export nectarines to the Asian country.

"It is very good news for our nectarine producers," declared Furche at a press conference in the southern U.S. city of Miami, where he is attending the Chile Week, according to news reaching here.

After three years of negotiations, the first batch of Chilean nectarines will be sent to China between late November to early December, with producers and exporters both set to benefit.

"This gives them access to a dynamic, expanding market, and opens the door to diversifying their destinations in the future. It is very complicated to commercialize nectarines in recent years due to rising competition from various countries, the European Union and the Southern hemisphere," explained Furche.

Ronald Brown, president of the Chilean Association Fruit Exporters, said that he aims to see "up to a million boxes of Chilean nectarines being exported to China" a year.

"The season is set to start in a few weeks," Furche said, adding that "we can expect a clearance both in the markets and on prices."

According to the agriculture minister, Chile exports around $55 million worth of nectarines worldwide.