Chilean citrus exports to the US are officially on
During a tour of the phytosanitary Inspection Site in Cquimbo, in Northern Chile, local authorities and trade representatives officially launched the citrus export season to the United States.
The activity was attended by the Chilean National Director of the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG, for its initials in Spanish), Domingo Rojas Philippi, and General Manager of industry body Frutas de Chile, Miguel Canala-Echeverría, as well as regional authorities, local producers, and SAG officials.
During the visit, authorities emphasized the strategic importance of the SAG/USDA-APHIS/Frutas de Chile inspection site to citrus exports and the regional economy at large, especially during a challenging season marked by fruit fly outbreaks.
In a statement released by SAG, the agency said these facilities, along with coordination between the public and private sectors, are key to ensuring compliance with US market requirements and safeguarding the country's phytosanitary heritage.
“From this phytosanitary inspection site, which is the result of the alliance between SAG, the USDA, and Frutas de Chile, we reaffirm that the safety and quality of our products are our best introduction,” said Chilean Minister of Agriculture, Jaime Campos.
The challenges facing citrus exports
On site, the National Director of SAG, Domingo Rojas, noted that the Coquimbo Region, in Northern Chile, is a strategic major citrus producer in the country, and most of its fruit is shipped to the US.
Regarding the sanitary situation, Rojas added that his office’s current priority is fruit fly management and eradication.
“We are deploying all our technical and human efforts to resolve this scenario as quickly as possible,” he said. “We are convinced that joint work and close communication with the private sector are the key tools that will allow us to overcome these challenges, always counting on the support and commitment of producers.”
Regarding citrus exports, Frutas de Chile’s General Manager, Miguel Canala-Echeverría, explained that the industry body is currently meeting with local producers to enable dual mode inspections at the USDA-APHIS facility. That, he explained, will enable authorities to simultaneously inspect fruit from both regulated and free zones.
"For this, we have already reached an understanding with SAG and the USDA regarding the infrastructure modifications necessary to operate under both modalities,” he said.
In 2025, over 7.1 million boxes were inspected at the Coquimbo inspection site, representing an 82.6 percent increase from the 2024 season.
*All images courtesy of SAG.
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