A group of U.S. businesses have expressed concern over the Chilean Government's intentions to close its Philadelphia Consulate, in a letter to Chilean President Sebastian Piñera obtained by www.freshfruitportal.com.

The Philadelphia Consulate serves Chilean citizens and businesses in Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, which are "critical to the Chilean relationship with the United States, especially for Chilean fruit exports".

"Looking only at the fruit sector, the value of shipments from Chile to the Delaware Ports increased from approximately (US)$189,300,000 in 1989 to (US)$801,018,000 in 2010," the letter said.

"The total value of all imports from Chile into the Delaware River Ports rose from (US)$192,020,000 in 1989 to (US)$966,330,000 in 2010.

"Chile’s remarkable success in fruit exports to the United States has not gone unnoticed by Chile’s would be rivals. The Consulate in the dynamic Delaware River region is a significant source of expertise and monitoring of those efforts to erode Chile’s competitive advantage."

Signatories  to the letter included Unifrutti of America CEO Andreas Economou, Royal Fumigation Vice President Anne Bookout and AMC Direct general manager Daniel Kolbach, among others.

Photo: www.cincystreet.com

Source: www.freshfruitportal.com