We regularly travel to Chile to visit our walnut, raisin, prune, and almond suppliers. We visit our suppliers and their cultivation areas in order to obtain the latest market information.
The Chilean walnuts are worldwide seen as the best quality walnuts (shape, size, taste, color). The total crop in 2015 was about 65.000 / 70.000 tons. We only buy the Serr and Chandler variety from selected suppliers.
Chile is also able to produce a very good quality raisin due to the excellent weather conditions. There are hardly any grapes planted only for raisin production. Raisins come from discarded table grapes that do not make it for exports or domestic fresh consumption. In Chile raisins are produced mainly from Thompson and Flame varieties.
Other varieties that have become more popular are Black seedless, Crimson seedless, Superior and Red Globe. Most of the drying process in Chile is carried out by using the sun to dry the grapes. Grapes are laid on plastic film in open fields, where they are sun-dried for 15 to 20 days. Some facilities use drying tunnels. Over 95% of the Chilean raisin production is exported.
In Chile they usually produce around 75.000 tons of prunes a year. The plantation area is from Valparaíso to Maule, which has an exceptional Mediterranean climate and very good geographical, weather and soil conditions. We can offer different sizes; pitted or unpitted.
High prices and consistent international demand have made almonds an attractive business in Chile. The almond cultivation extends from the Coquimbo region to the O’Higgins region, covering at least 8,545 hectares. Chilean exports of shelled almonds have shown a big increase in the last decade (268%). Almonds require sectors with mild winters and warm springs and summers, without a frost during the flowering stage. The most cultivated almond in Chile is the Non Pareil, which stands out for its smoother skin, higher kernel weight, and easier processing. We can also offer the Carmel variety.