Articles
THE EMERGING CRANBERRY INDUSTRY IN CHILE
Article number
446_23
Pages
159 – 164
Language
Abstract
As of 1996, four businesses have established plantings of the North American cranberry, Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait. in Southern Chile, S.A. Plantings are situated in Regions IX and X, between the cities of Temuco and Puerto Montt (lat 39S – 40S). Experimental plantings, containing 2.0 ha with 12 cranberry cultivars, were made in 1989 by Fundacicn Chile, an agency concerned with development of forest, marine and agricultural resources in the country.
In 1992 Cran Chile, Ltda., a privately owned firm was established with the initial objective of planting 300 ha of cranberries by 1996 to be processed into juice concentrate in the firm’s plant.
Revised objectives are to plant up to a total of 1200 ha by 2008. Additional plantings underway since 1992 include the firm Bayas del ¥adi, S.A. with 80 ha and AFODECH, Ltda with 5 ha devoted to organic production practices, both located in more southerly areas, near Osorno.
Soils suitable for cranberry generally consist of redistributed volcanic ash, located on nearly level river plains or plateaus, and are well drained, ranging from pH 5.2 – 5.8. Iron (Fe) accretions at soil depths of 0.25 – 1.0 meter allow for bed flooding for water harvesting of fruit.
Water sources generally are streams formed from snow melt in the Andes mountains, dug reservoirs filled by substantial winter rainfall or to a limited extent, deep wells.
Ambient temperatures in areas where cranberries are planted in Chile closely approximate those of cranberry growing areas in Washington and Oregon, USA. Frosts are limited and generally have not occurred during critical blossoming periods in late November and early December.
Fruit ripens in the first three weeks of March.
Limited initial fruiting indicates excellent quality with high anthocyanin content and soluble solids > 8.5% can be anticipated.
Weeds are the predominant pest problem.
No significant insect or plant disease problems have been noted to date.
In 1992 Cran Chile, Ltda., a privately owned firm was established with the initial objective of planting 300 ha of cranberries by 1996 to be processed into juice concentrate in the firm’s plant.
Revised objectives are to plant up to a total of 1200 ha by 2008. Additional plantings underway since 1992 include the firm Bayas del ¥adi, S.A. with 80 ha and AFODECH, Ltda with 5 ha devoted to organic production practices, both located in more southerly areas, near Osorno.
Soils suitable for cranberry generally consist of redistributed volcanic ash, located on nearly level river plains or plateaus, and are well drained, ranging from pH 5.2 – 5.8. Iron (Fe) accretions at soil depths of 0.25 – 1.0 meter allow for bed flooding for water harvesting of fruit.
Water sources generally are streams formed from snow melt in the Andes mountains, dug reservoirs filled by substantial winter rainfall or to a limited extent, deep wells.
Ambient temperatures in areas where cranberries are planted in Chile closely approximate those of cranberry growing areas in Washington and Oregon, USA. Frosts are limited and generally have not occurred during critical blossoming periods in late November and early December.
Fruit ripens in the first three weeks of March.
Limited initial fruiting indicates excellent quality with high anthocyanin content and soluble solids > 8.5% can be anticipated.
Weeds are the predominant pest problem.
No significant insect or plant disease problems have been noted to date.
Publication
Authors
Elden J. Stang
Keywords
Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait., volcanic soils, chilling hours, fruit exports
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