The 2017-18 Chilean cherry deal may still be some way off, but one expert believes weather-related factors over recent months bode well for the next season. 

Speaking with Fresh Fruit Portal, a representative from cherry research and development company Avium explained April had been colder than in 2016, helping trees to enter their dormancy stage with more regular timing.

Technical director Carlos Tapia said May - the end of the fall period and the beginning of winter - had also been cold and had led to a good accumulation of cold hours in the central regions.

"May was much better than in 2016 - we accumulated around 300-400% more cold hours," he said.

Despite expectations June would be even colder, he said the first month of winter began positively and finished up with a normal number of degree days.

"So far in July, it has been a good month, and so we have had a good period of cold hour accumulation this season, which is an important factor in conditioning the productive potential [of the crop]," he said.

Overall the representative believed the industry was "on a good footing", but highlighted there could always be surprises when it came to cherries such as heavy rains or severe frosts in the spring.

Experts believe this upcoming spring will not be particularly cold but is likely to be wet, according to Tapia, who said rains during that period could shave off volumes.

In February Tapia said growers needed to start preparing for the following campaign and irrigate their crops well amid high summer temperatures.

Much of the country has received a good amount of rainfall over the winter months.

The Chilean cherry season typically begins in late October or early November.

Could exports top 30 million boxes?

He said it was too early to give an export estimate figure, but noted some people were forecasting volumes could be in excess of 30 million five-kilogram boxes.

While he agreed they would be higher than last year's 18.9 million boxes, he still thought a 30 million plus crop would be a bit of a stretch.

"Last year's season was somewhat strange...since there was frosts in some areas but not others, and the crop could have had a potential of 25 million boxes," he said.

"However, this year a large number of hectares are coming into production, which will help to increase the number of boxes exported."

Photo: www.shutterstock.com

www.freshfruitportal.com