Chile’s 2010-11 export season is fully under way with expectations that shipment volumes will increase over last year across the board, the country’s Agriculture Ministry said in a statement.

To mark the start, Agricultural Minister José Antonio Galilea oversaw the processing of cherries along with members of the country’s exports association, growers federation and the government’s sanitation inspection agency.

The minister also announced new lines of assistance for small growers through the state innovation and investment agency, Corfo, in order to counteract the effect of the low dollar against Chile’s peso. Corfo will offer guarantees for growers that have loans in dollars and could be affected by a drop in value of export returns.

Galilea also stressed the importance of finding new markets for Chilean fruit, and that growers should look to Eastern Europe, Russia and Asia.

These new trade partners represent an important source of development for Chile’s fresh fruit industry, Galilea added.

Source: www.freshfruitportal.com