Chilean fresh fruit exports have soared over the course of recent years and organic fruit have been no exception. But a mutual organic certification recognition agreement with the European Union could help the South American country's organic sector step up a notch. 

The EU's organic logo.

The Chilean Fruit Exporters Association (ASOEX) is exploring options to further promote Chilean organic products at trade fairs in the months ahead, which are likely to include an increased presence at Germany’s Biofach and Green Week events in early 2018.

In a release, ASOEX marketing director for Europe and Asia, Charif Christian Carvajal, said Chile’s organic fresh produce exports in the year to date as of July totaled 18,150 metric tons, 76% of which were exported to the U.S. and 21% to Europe.

Chile's presence in the U.S. is expected to remain strong, but ASOEX expects organic equivalency with Europe is set to boost the relevance of the organic category for Chile's fresh produce sector as a whole.

Under the terms of a deal sealed in April, Chile and the EU have agreed to mutually recognize the equivalence of their organic production rules and control systems. Effectively, this means that all organic products – including fresh produce – certified and produced in Chile can be placed directly in the EU market and vice versa.

"In practical terms, any Chilean exporter that complies with Chile’s organic certification is also able to use the EU organic logo on their packaging – we have become the first country outside the EU to be recognized in this sense," said Carvajal.

The majority of organic fruit exports have been in blueberries, apples and kiwifruit, but the release also pointed to significant export rises over the past five years in cranberries, and exponential growth in cranberries.

Chilean Blueberry Committee executive director Andrés Armstrong said organic blueberry exports alone reached 5,000MT in 2017 and were expected to continue growing.

"There’s strong demand for organic blueberries in the U.S. and Europe The organic certification agreement will also give Chile an extra competitive  advantage over other exporting countries," Armstrong said.

"This recognition offers a reassurance and piece of mind to Chilean exporters that when they are shipping organic products to Europe, they can also have the confidence that these products are already recognised as organic within the EU," added ASOEX president Ronald Bown.

One recognition of the increasing importance of Chile’s organic fresh produce sector was the decision by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to choose Chile as the site for training its officials in organic production regulations at a Latin American level.

"The USDA’s decision shows how Chile is becoming a central point of reference for organic production and exports," Bown said.

According to statistics from ProChile, some 223 grower-exporters are now involved in Chile’s organic fruit and vegetable sector.

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