Delays in shipments and market saturation of cherries underscore the necessity for enhanced post-harvest research

Delays in shipments and market saturation of cherries underscore the necessity for enhanced post-harvest research

A researcher from INIA Quilamapu emphasized the importance of having optimal storage conditions to avoid losses from prolonged storage.

The recent malfunction of the Maersk Saltoro vessel, which was transporting 1,363 containers (five million boxes) of Chilean cherries to China, has revealed the vulnerability of the fruit industry to logistical delays. The vessel suffered a failure in its main engine on January 13, leaving it adrift in the Pacific Ocean and delaying its arrival, which was scheduled for January 20, a key date for fruit distribution in China.

The situation is exacerbated by the high concentration of the Chinese market, which represents more than 90% of Chilean cherry exports. This oversupply has led to a significant drop in prices, affecting producers’ profitability.

This incident could translate into millions in losses for Chilean producers, impacting the quality of the cherries during a critical period, as they were expected to arrive just before the Chinese New Year, celebrated between January 29 and February 12. Despite containers being equipped with electric supply to maintain the cold chain, prolonged storage generates adverse effects on the fruit.

In this regard, Cristiรกn Balbontรญn, a researcher at INIA Quilamapu’s Fruit Quality Laboratory, emphasized the importance of post-harvest research to mitigate these risks. โ€œParameters such as firmness, color, and dehydration of the pedicel are critical for product acceptance in international markets. Additionally, physiological disorders such as pitting, lizard skin, and internal browning can develop during prolonged storage, compromising fruit quality,โ€ he explained.

Balbontรญn highlighted that the Fruit Quality Laboratory at INIA Quilamapu has been researching the impact of storage on various cherry varieties grown in ร‘uble for several years.

The studies have analyzed preservation periods of 10, 30, and 50 days, in addition to shelf exposure times ranging from 2 to 6 days: โ€œIn general, as storage time increases, the incidence of disorders such as internal browning rises in Regina and Kordia varieties, while firmness loss is more pronounced in Santina and Lapins.โ€

In this context, the specialist noted that the work conducted in the laboratory โ€œallows us to better understand the most suitable time to maintain fruit quality, depending on each variety and the target market.โ€

The researcher also stressed that the quality of cherries varies significantly according to the production area and climatic conditions of each season, and that โ€œfactors such as heat waves, rainfall, or harvest delays due to low spring temperatures can affect post-harvest lifespan potential.โ€

Finally, Balbontรญn reiterated the importance of strengthening post-harvest research to ensure the competitiveness of Chilean cherries in international markets. โ€œIf we want to access new markets and maintain business profitability, collaboration among researchers, producers, and exporters is key to optimizing post-harvest practices and ensuring that Chilean cherries continue to be a global quality benchmark,โ€ he concluded.

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