Despite the staggering fall in Chilean kiwifruit production to less than half of what it would normally be, a leading exporter says the season hasn't been a disaster by any means.

Copefrut market manager Ricardo Gonzalez told www.freshfruitportal.com the excessively cold weather last year had taken its toll on fruit yield.

"It's been quite a hard season in terms of volume, which has been really low this season. I'd say production is down by around 55% compared to a standard year due to the frosts last winter," Gonzalez said.

However, the year has not gone as badly as one might think given the considerably reduced output, as Gonzalez explained that many other aspects of the season were very positive.

"Production is really the only issue we've had – the quality of the fruit has been excellent and prices have also strong in pretty much all of our export markets, so that’s been able to compensate a bit for the lower yield," he said.

"Overall I would say it’s been an okay season."

Gonzalez said the company said that increased demand for kiwifruit in many foreign markets had led to good returns for the produce.

"Prices have been higher this season everywhere, in Europe, the U.S. and Asian markets. We're very happy with how they have been," he said.

"Europe is still by far our biggest market in terms of volume. The prices they pay for the kiwifruit aren't necessarily higher than the U.S. – prices are always changing – but purely in terms of export volume Europe is the most important for us."

Gonzalez added that he felt it was important to make the best of the cards he had been dealt this season, and then move on and look ahead to the coming year.

"Right now we are just going to get through this season, and then we will focus on preparing for the next year when hopefully production will be back up to the normal levels and there shouldn’t be any problems," he said.

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www.freshfruitportal.com