Chile’s Stone Fruit Exports Projected To Grow 2% in 2024/25

In recent years, Chilean stone fruits have gained popularity among middle-aged and young women embracing a healthy and light-eating lifestyle. With their rich flavors, variety and convenience, these fruits provide a quick and delicious energy boost, often enjoyed after exercise to restore vitality. They are also a favored choice for outdoor activities and everyday snacking, celebrated for their health benefits.

For the 2024/25 season, marketing efforts are targeting female consumers, promoting a healthy lifestyle and raising awareness of the benefits of these fruits through a blend of online and offline campaigns.

On the afternoon of March 14, Frutas de Chile and Olé hosted a tasting event showcasing Chilean stone fruits, including sugar plums, peaches, nectarines and plums. A chef from a renowned vegetarian restaurant in Shanghai demonstrated creative dishes such as nectarine salad, Sichuan-style spicy tofu with plums and granola yogurt with sugar plums. Attendees enjoyed the vibrant flavors while discovering how Chilean stone fruits can inspire a healthy lifestyle.

Many consumers view Chilean stone fruits as a healthy choice for outdoor activities and everyday snacking. On March 22, Frutas de Chile and Xianfeng Fruit organized a spring camping event themed around Chilean stone fruits at a campsite in Hangzhou’s Asian Games Village. Families with young children enjoyed picnicking and savoring fresh Chilean stone fruits from afternoon until night. The event also included interactive games, offering participants a fun and educational experience highlighting the nutritional benefits and unique flavors of Chilean stone fruits.

To reach a broader audience, Frutas de Chile has partnered with leading retail chains such as Costco, Olé, Freshippo, Walmart and Metro, along with popular fruit chains like Xianfeng Fruit, Pagoda and Greenery Fruit, to roll out nationwide offline promotions.

During the promotions, the participating stores highlighted a variety of Chilean stone fruits through eye-catching posters and in-person demonstrations, offering tastings to encourage purchases and raise consumer awareness of the products.

Market data from recent years show that platforms such as JD.com, Xiaohongshu and Douyin have been pivotal in driving online sales of Chilean stone fruits. For the 2024/25 season, Frutas de Chile plans to strengthen collaborations with these platforms, highlighting the health and nutritional benefits of stone fruits. Additionally, partnerships with Douyin influencers and wholesale market streamers will harness livestreaming to boost sales.

The Chilean Stone Fruit Committee of Frutas de Chile recently announced that the total export volume of Chilean stone fruits for the 2024/25 season is projected to reach 37.1 million cartons, reflecting a 2% increase from the previous season.

Exports of Japanese plums for the 2024/25 season are expected to reach 14.4 million cartons (7-kilogram equivalent), a 3% increase from the previous season, driven by a higher output of red-fleshed varieties, although black-fleshed varieties are projected to decline slightly by 1%. Meanwhile, exports of European plums (sugar plums) are estimated at 5.3 million cartons (9-kilogram equivalent), a sharp 34% drop from the previous season. Nectarine exports are forecast to reach 14.6 million cartons (8-kilogram equivalent), marking a notable 26% year-on-year increase, while peach exports are expected to rise by 2% to 2.8 million cartons (8-kilogram equivalent).

Images: Frutas de Chile

This article was translated from Chinese. Read the original article.