A Chilean kiwifruit industry leader has told www.freshfruitportal.com the country is yet to see the spread of vine disease Psa, but this does not bring an advantage over competitors.

Chilean Kiwifruit Committee general manager Carlos Cruzat, says Psa detection has so far been limited to a small area but this does not rule a potential outbreak.

"With respect to the presence of Psa, there have been just two orchards registered with the disease in Chile - In October in the spring we started inspections which just finished in December, and the results should be out this month," he says.

"We haven’t been in the situation of other countries like New Zealand and Italy, but it could happen and that depends on whether climate effects express themselves that allow the disease to spread.

"We are working with the International Kiwifruit Organization to deliver information when we have an update."

Chile's kiwifruit export season is just months away, but Cruzat says it is difficult to predict what effect New Zealand's Psa issues will have on destination markets and Chilean producers.

"Psa is bad for everyone. I don’t think it will be good for anyone in the world. In Chile it’s difficult to predict what effect New Zealand’s Psa problems will have on prices, whether they will increase or fall," he says.

"What has happened in New Zealand may diminish supply in some channels, but all channels are different – as a country we need to supply to supermarket chains, not just focusing on price and volume, but the establishment of trade links."

Cruzat adds the Chilean industry can only focus on its own situation and what is at its disposal.

"Independent of the presence of Psa in New Zealand or Chile, we have a great opportunity to improve the quality of our kiwifruit. It diminishes supply in some channels, but all channels are different – as a country we need to supply to supermarket chains, not just focusing on price and volume, but the establishment of trade links.

"What some might say is that Psa in New Zealand could benefit Chile, but what I would say is that for us we need to focus on what we can, and that is working against Psa here and improving quality, with both of those things running in tandem."

Official export forecasts are yet to be released, but Cruzat told www.freshfruitportal.com that preliminary estimates showed shipments would likely increase on last year.

"There is no official projection of volumes but we are predicting unofficially that we will surpass the 180,000 (metric) tons exported last year, with an estimate of more than 200,000 (metric) tons."

Related story: Chile starts kiwifruit inspections for Psa disease

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