A major trade show being held this week in Chile has officially kicked off, with the El Niño weather phenomenon and associated rainfall a talking point of the event.

Fedefruta president Juan Carolus Brown

Federation of Fruit Producers (Fedefruta) president Juan Carolus Brown spoke during the inauguration of Produce Marketing Association (PMA) Fruittrade Latin America 2015, stressing the importance of collaboration of all industry players across the supply chain.

He said Chile would likely produce similar fruit volumes this summer season to last year, given the unusually wet spring caused by the arrival of El Niño.

But despite the lack of overall growth forecast this year, there were several positives mentioned by the representative.

"[We expect] good fruit sizes for stonefruit and cherries, the best flavor you've ever tasted from our apples, avocados free of disease, and table grapes that are capable of traveling to any market in the world without problems," he said.

"We, as an industry, are called upon to live up to expectations, and we hope that this meeting point [PMA Fruittrade] will help us all to overcome the challenges we face."

Minister of Agriculture of Chile, Carlos Furche, also highlighted how the Chilean fruit industry had evolved over the years, growing from a small sector that produced only staple foods to a major global industry growing a wide range of high quality fruits.

Attendees queue up to receive their credentials at PMA Fruittrade Latin America 2015

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