Chilean exporters and distributors are predicting a strong upturn in sales this season after last season's poor returns caused by light crops and fluctuating markets. Then, Europe took some 28% of Chilean fruit exports, but Ronald Bown, chairman of the Chilean Fresh Fruit Association is looking towards a return to the 40% figure of two years earlier. Launching the season at the Embassy in London last week , he said that the latest crop reports promised excellent quality, and for the first time growers would be able to benefit from Chile's newly ratified Good Agricultural Practices programme. "While voluntary, it is the first of its kind in the world", he told multiple buyers and importers. Bown accepted that the flow of European imports could still be affected by currency differences, but was optimistic "different ways would be found to beat the problems. "Certainly, we do not expect the UK to experience any shortage of fruit." Crop forecasts point to small reductions in the seedless grape crop, one of the largest in the world. White varieties are expected to reach 24.6 million cartons, down from 27.1 million, but red seeded varieties are up by more than 2.5 million cartons to 23 million. The important stone fruit crop, where Chile is the main plum supplier to Europe, is substantially higher, rising from seven to nine million cartons. There are increases forecast for peaches with a rise from 4.3 million to 5.6 million cartons and nectarines up from 5.6 million to 7 million. {{FRESH PRODUCE }}

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