Chile: Actual Grape expectation

With so much doom and gloom for California and Brazilian grape shippers, The Chilean grape harvest out of the earliest regions of Copiapó is expected to start in Week 47 with the first of the Flames and early white seedless varieties.

With Brazilian white seedless still likely to be in the market and with the prospect of some Peruvian Flames and white seedless grapes also in the market at that time, Chilean table grape prices will feel some impact.

How great that impact will be will need to be played out. At least this year, Chilean growers have an exchange rate of US$1.00 = CLP 636 which is a 27% decline in value from one year ago and a 44% decline since March, 2007. This will help soften the blow of what may be a lower general price level and will help give growers a bit more breathing room. That the Copiapó harvest is also running a bit later than expected will also help…a little bit.

Source: M.Greenberg Fischer Capespan.