A group of organic blueberry growers from Chile's southern Patagonia region has been visiting South Korea, Brazil and the United Arab Emrites, with view to diversifying its markets away from the U.S. and Europe.

The five growers running from the XIV (Los Rios) region to the X (Los Lagos) region have been shipping their fruit under a collective association for several years.

Speaking to www.freshfruitportal.com, group representative Andrés Hoffman said the organization was hoping to grow in more international markets.

"We have vast experienced in the organic sector. Nowadays we have formed an associated project involving five blueberry growers," he said.

The producers have collectively cover 82 hectares of certified organic production since 2008, with varieties including Duke, Legacy, Brigitta and Elliot.

Hoffman explained that one of the group's aims was to be able to export fruit directly from the Los Rios region, and in order to do so two of the association's growers had formed the exporter Patagonia Berry Growers.

"They export both their own fruit, as well as fruit from the association's other growers, mainly by airfreight to the U.S.," he said, adding smaller quantities were also sent to Europe.

Patagonia Berry Growers has now become the third-largest organic blueberry exporter in Chile, with two-thirds of its 500-metric-ton (MT) annual production shipped overseas.

The group now has its eyes on diversifying its international markets, and has recently carried out three business visits to South Korea, Brazil and the United Arab Emrites.

Hoffman said the South Korean and Brazilian governments were currently in the process of harmonizing organic standards, and that airfreight consignments would begin as soon as the fruit was certified.

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