Chile's cherry export forecasts have been downgraded by less than 1% due to weather issues in October, according to the latest estimation by market researcher iQonsulting.

IQonsulting reports conditions have been generally favorable for production of the fruit, but frosts in the pre-Andean areas of the VI (O'Higgins) and VII (Maule) regions during the budding period led to some slight damages for early fruit.

As a result the forecast has been adjusted from 70,182MT to 69,579MT. IQonsulting says the adjustment is only small because the frosts themselves were minor and growers also showed good management practices.

The new forecast would still represent a record cherry export level for Chile, provided there aren't any larger weather-related upsets.

IQonsulting said it was expected that cherry harvests would begin this week (week 43).

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iQonsulting/ edited by www.freshfruitportal.com