Product Offerings
Product Categories:
fruits and vegetables, Fruits
Products:
Export Data & Trade Promotion: cherries, blueberries, grapes, stone fruit, apples, pears, kiwifruit, citrus
Frutas de Chile, formerly known as ASOEX (Asociación de Exportadores de Frutas de Chile A.G.), is the leading trade association representing Chile’s fresh fruit export sector. Headquartered in Santiago, Chile, the organization serves as the collective voice of fruit exporters, producers, and associated stakeholders, driving the global promotion, sustainability, and trade policy alignment of Chilean fresh produce.
Core Function
Frutas de Chile operates as a non-profit trade association with the primary mission to enhance the competitiveness and global positioning of Chilean fruits in international markets. It provides a central coordination platform for:
- Promoting Chilean fruits abroad through campaigns, fairs, and trade missions
- Gathering and publishing export statistics and market intelligence
- Coordinating phytosanitary negotiations with importing countries
- Supporting quality control and food safety compliance across the sector
Product Coverage
Frutas de Chile represents more than 350 fruit export companies and producers, covering a wide spectrum of Chile’s agricultural exports. Key product categories include:
- Cherries: Chile is the world’s largest cherry exporter, shipping over 415,000 tons in the 2022–2023 season.
- Blueberries: Approximately 90,000 tons exported annually, with the U.S. and China as key markets.
- Grapes: Over 600,000 tons exported each season, including both Red Globe and seedless varieties.
- Apples and Pears: Traditional strongholds with key destinations in Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East.
- Kiwifruit and Citrus: Gaining prominence in recent years with steady growth in Asian markets.
- Stone Fruits: Including peaches, nectarines, and plums, exported mainly to the U.S. and Asia.
Specialization and Strategic Focus
Frutas de Chile specializes in:
- International promotion campaigns to enhance brand equity of “Fruits from Chile” in over 70 countries.
- Export readiness and support for small and mid-sized growers through training and certifications.
- Market access facilitation via phytosanitary agreements and advocacy.
- Sustainability and climate adaptation programs for growers in response to climate-related production risks.
The association’s unified promotional campaigns, such as “Cherries from Chile” in China and “Blueberries from Chile” in North America, have significantly boosted demand and recognition of Chilean products globally.
Financial and Market Insights
While Frutas de Chile does not operate as a commercial entity with revenue, it plays a central role in the economics of Chile’s fruit industry:
- Total Fresh Fruit Exports (2023): Over $5.4 billion USD
- Total Volume Exported (2023): 2.5 million metric tons
- Key Export Destinations:
- China (Cherries, Grapes)
- United States (Blueberries, Apples)
- Europe (Kiwifruit, Citrus)
- Middle East (Mixed Fruit)
Chile ranks among the top five global exporters of fresh fruit and is the largest fruit exporter in the Southern Hemisphere.
Industry Support and Member Services
Frutas de Chile offers the following capabilities to its members:
- Real-time export data systems and crop forecasting
- Phytosanitary support and coordination with SAG and customs
- Participation in international expos and trade fairs (e.g., Fruit Logistica, Asia Fruit Logistica)
- Scientific and sustainability committees addressing climate risk, water management, and postharvest technologies
Certifications and Compliance
Frutas de Chile actively promotes and aligns members with international standards, including:
- Global G.A.P.
- FSMA compliance for U.S. markets
- BRC, HACCP, and other food safety certifications
- Sustainable production certifications (e.g., Rainforest Alliance, GRASP)
Through its support, Chilean exporters are among the best-prepared globally in terms of food safety, traceability, and sustainability.
Global Promotional Impact
The organization runs robust marketing campaigns in over 20 countries annually, funded by both the private sector and Chile’s government agency ProChile. Notable programs include:
- “Cherries from Chile” campaign in China, reaching over 1 billion impressions in the 2022–2023 season
- Blueberries and Citrus from Chile consumer outreach in North America and Southeast Asia
- Retail activation campaigns in supermarkets like Walmart, Carrefour, and Tesco
Major Achievements
- Secured expanded access to the Chinese market for cherries via charter flight programs and cold treatment innovations
- Launched the Sustainable Fruit Production Strategy 2030, aiming for carbon neutrality in the sector
- Developed the Online Export Statistics Platform, enabling stakeholders to track real-time export trends
Frutas de Chile continues to play a pivotal role in shaping Chile's fruit export leadership, ensuring that the industry not only meets but exceeds international expectations in quality, sustainability, and compliance.