Berries

Quiet an unknown fact is that the strawberry was first discovered in Chile many years ago. But commercial production of berries is a relatively recent development.

Raspberries, first began being cultivated in 1979, and are today the most important berry for export, with blueberries, strawberries and blackberries the other main products.

Currently the US is the major export destination for these products, whilst Europe, is increasing its consumption of Chilean berries every year.

Varieties

This is a round, firm fruit that has a deep purple to bluish color, with a white shine to the fruit.

The colors range from red to golden, and should be well formed with a uniform color indicating that the fruit is ready to be eaten. Raspberries can be frozen for up to 10 months.

These are grown mostly in the south of Chile, where the temperature and climate are good for producing sweet, firm fruit. Blackberries should be a uniform, brilliant, black color, firm and well formed.

Storage

	It is always best to keep berries in cold storage. The ideal temperature is 32° F (0° C), maintained from when the berry is first
	picked, with a relative humidity of 90%.
	Raspberries are more easily harmed than blueberries and strawberries.
	Blueberries last between 10 to 14 days in refrigeration.
	It is recommendable to refrigerate strawberries with their green leaves, and take the leaves off before eating the strawberry.
	Keep the fruit dry, and never store berries near meat or milk products, because the berries absorb these smells.

Exhibition

	Fruit should be well formed, dry, firm and uniformly of the same color.
	Blueberries have a purplish-blue color to a black-blue color, with a silver gray hue that covers the darkest areas. This is a typical
	characteristic of the fruit and is not a sign of decomposition.
	If the fruit is displayed in cases or in paper products, be on the look out for humidity and stains, especially in the bottom of the box.
	This can be a sign of over-ripeness.
	Review the berries each morning and remove damaged berries.
	A single unattractive package can harm the appearance of all the other displays on the shelf.
	Always keep the berries in the case they arrived in.
	Keep the shelf dry and free of any juice from the fruit.

Regions of Production

Metropolitan region - Santiago
VI region - Rancagua
VII region - Maule
VIII region - Bío Bío
IX region - Araucania
X region - Los Lagos

Availibility

October through May.