Construction has begun on a new CLP2.8 billion (US$4.4 million) inspection site in the southern Chilean district of Cabrero, which upon completion will streamline fruit export logistics for hundreds of fruit growers who look to the U.S. market.

The project will be undertaken as a public-private partnership between Chile's Agriculture and Livestock Service (SAG), the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association (ASOEX).

Currently, the most convenient USDA inspection site for producers in the Biobío region is in Teno. Located in the Maule region, this facility is 210 miles away from growers in Los Ángeles and 313 miles for farmers based around Temuco.

The construction phase for the 3,622sqm (38,986 square feet) facility has been set at 420 days, on land donated to the Biobío regional government by ASOEX.

SAG director Ángel Sartori hailed the move as a "tremendous advance for the sector".

"Many shipments of blueberries, pears and apples will be able to go out. Last season we had around 1.5 million boxes that left from here. Our expectation is that this will increase to around five million," he said in a release.

ASOEX president Ronald Bown described the expected improvement in logistic speed from the project will lead to a significant increase in the Chilean fruit industry's competitiveness.

Cabrero Mayor Mario Gierke was similarly optimistic.

"It is a joy for the whole district, for the whole region, to get a plant that certifies fruit to go directly to the U.S., and this of course generates employment, growth and credibility for what we are doing," Gierke said.

The Cabrero facility will be best served by the Port of Coronel south of Concepción, Chile's second-largest city. In May, the port's commercial director Martín Fuentes Robles told www.freshfruitportal.com investments had been made to continue boosting capacity for new cargo.

Even in the absence of a nearby facility certified for U.S.-bound exports, the port has still witnessed exponential growth in international fruit exports, multiplying 25-fold since 2009 to reach 2.3% of Chile’s total shipments.

Blueberries are the leading fruit that passes through the port with 41% of its total, followed by fresh apples (19%), raspberries (9%) and fresh pears (7%).

Photo: ASOEX

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