USDA-APHIS, SAG, and Frutas de Chile update key pre-shipment program agreement

Chile’s Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG), along with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and country brand Frutas de Chile, updated the Operational Agreement of the Pre-shipment Program, defining fruit export protocols to the United States.

The document was signed in a small ceremony attended by representatives of SAG and Frutas de Chile, as well as the newly appointed US ambassador to Chile, Brandon Judd.

Miguel Canala-Echeverría, General Manager of Frutas de Chile, said USDA-APHIS/SAG and Frutas de Chile phytosanitary inspection sites are “unique in their kind” and “pioneers in the inspection work of fresh fruit sent to the US market”. 

“Today, the Pre-shipment Program is over 44 years old, a time when the agreement has allowed us to continue growing in shipments, but also to face challenges in a coordinated manner between the fruit export sector and the authorities of both countries,” he added.

A special relationship built on agreement

During the signing of the agreement, Iván Marambio, President of Frutas de Chile, emphasized the strong commercial relationship between the Andean country and the US, a crucial market for the Chilean fruit sector. 

"The United States is our main destination in terms of volume, receiving over 850 thousand tons of fresh fruit last season, where table grapes and citrus fruits lead the shipments,” Marambio said. 

However, the executive didn’t hold back and also pointed out the pending export matters to iron out between Chile and the US:  “We have challenges at the tariff level and also derived from the suspension of the Systems Approach for our table grapes, where we hope negotiations will advance positively."

Regarding these issues, Judd said the US is more than open to coming to the table: "We can continue to advance in the area of fruit. Yes, absolutely. And this meeting with the SAG and Frutas de Chile is evidence that we are always working to improve and benefit both countries."

*All images courtesy of Frutas de Chile.

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