Live Report From IFTA 2012 Conference
January 10, 2012 
This year’s International Fruit Tree Association (IFTA) Conference, held in Santiago, Chile, is highlighting what has made the country internationally recognized in the specialty agriculture industry. Ronald Brown, President of Association of Chilean Exporters (Asociacion de Exportadores de Chile, ASOEX), initiated the introduction to the country’s fruit industry in his Sunday, Jan. 8, presentation at the Grand Hyatt in Santiago.
Calling Chile a trustworthy, worldwide provider of fresh fruit, Brown explained what has made the country as successful as it is. With more than 7,800 producers of fresh fruit, 727 companies that export to locations around the world, and 1,700 importers around the globe, Chile’s fruit industry employs more than a million people. The largest exporter in the Southern hemisphere, there is no question as to why the IFTA chose this location for its annual conference.
Explaining that Chile is a “great extension of a Mediterranean climate,” Brown outlined the six world climates the country spans in its South American borders that has allowed it to grow such a variety of fruit including grapes, apples, kiwis, avocadoes, grapefruit, peaches, and more.
Antonio Walker Prieto, president of Fede Frut, expanded on Brown’s commentary, giving the audience two clear advantages of being a part of the Chilean fruit industry. Confidently stating that in 10 years, the country plans to be one of the huge players in the world agriculture industry, Prieto outlined the growth of the export industry in the past year, announcing a 24% increase from the previous year, a huge feat in this current global economy. “Someone in New York can eat a fresh Chilean cherry in the middle of winter,” he said. “We saw that we have an opportunity to dominate in the agriculture world. We have a great product. It is as simple as that.”
As for words of support for the rest of the fruit growers in the room, Prieto said, “We are an illuminated industry. Things for us don’t just fade away or change as rapidly as they do in other businesses. We go with the rhythm of new varieties, but things don’t change that much.” Closing his speech, Prieto thanked the attendees for what they have done for the Chilean fruit industry with their support. “This is an academic exchange for the purpose of learning and sharing information from all corners of the industry,” he said. “This has been very important to the Chilean fruit industry.”
Stay tuned for more updates from this year’s IFTA conference on GrowingProduce.com, and in upcoming issues of American/Western Fruit Grower.
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