Chile sets sail for the US: Koru kicks off fruit season with a big first shipment

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December marks the start of Chilean fruit shipments to the United States, and Freshfruitportal.com was present at the official departure of Cool Carriers’ vessel Koru, at Site 8 of the Valparaíso Port Terminal. This event marks the beginning of the 2025–2026 Chilean horticultural export season to the US.

On December 1, port and export representatives gathered in front of the vessel handling the first shipment of stonefruit, including cherries, along with table grapes and berries, all set to reach the US market in just 12 days.

The reefer uses advanced technology to preserve the fruit, helping Chilean products arrive in top condition and meet consumer expectations.

Andrés Armstrong, executive director of the Blueberry Committee of the national brand Frutas de Chile, said the service comes at a crucial moment, as blueberry production reaches its seasonal peak. He noted that the United States is the main destination for the crop, and the Koru ensures short transit times—a key factor for quality.

“Each day our fruit faces competition from different origins, and quality is essential to remain competitive,” he told FreshFreshPortal.com from TPV’s Site 8.

Last season, Chile shipped 43% of its total blueberry volume to the United States. Armstrong expects this share might be slightly lower this year due to the Trump administration's import tariffs.

“This service will significantly help us improve the arrival condition of Chilean blueberries. We’re very pleased to be starting this service early,” he added.

Koru: Cool Carriers' speedy reefer ship

Leaders in the cherry industry also welcomed the start of shipments to the United States, the second-most-important market for cherries after China.

Mario Edwards, president of Frutas de Chile's Cherry Committee, said last year the South American country sent just under four million boxes to the US, a figure that could rise this season.

“This vessel is carrying nearly 3,200 pallets of cherries that will arrive in Philadelphia on December 16—just before Christmas, which is an excellent window for Chilean cherries in the US market,” he said.

He added that shorter transit times help maintain high product quality upon arrival.

Ricardo Barkhahn, general manager of Cool Carriers, highlighted the vessel’s advanced technology and the importance of this port call.

“This is the result of joint work with our customers, understanding their needs and figuring out how to reach Philadelphia a couple of weeks before Christmas. There is a shared commitment here from both the shipping line and the exporters,” he said.

“The second milestone is that this vessel was built in 2025, which shows how much Cool Carriers believes in this industry. Koru is a first-generation ship,” he added.

The vessel will leave Chile on December 4 and head to Philadelphia. “It’s a very fast ship, with only 12 days in transit, and it will arrive with fruit in excellent condition,” Barkhahn said.

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