Bumper year in store for Chilean cherries
Chile’s cherry production is expected to be up this year thanks to ideal weather conditions during the growing season. Forecasts are for a rise of 30% on last year’s levels. The country’s crop is very popular with Chinese consumers, which has led to Chinese companies establishing bases in Latin America. According to CEO of Gold Anda, a recently founded Chinese food distributor specialising in purchasing South American produce, processing of this year’s Chilean cherry crop will begin on 10th November. Gold Anda works in partnership with eighteen cherry producers from different parts of Chile and expects sales in China this year to surpass 5,000 tons.
The company’s Chilean division incorporates cutting-edge sorting and packing equipment sourced from Australian company GP. It is fitted with three lenses that shoot 3D images to sort fruit based on size, colour and hardness.