The recent arrival of the first shipment of Brazilian Hass avocados to Chile marked a commercial milestone for the regional fruit sector. Behind this historic operation was Baika Fruits, a company with operations in Chile, Peru, Colombia, and Brazil, which reaffirms its leadership by completing this pioneering export that opens new opportunities for the Chilean market.

“As a leading company, we have to be the first,” says Sebastián Peragallo, fresh fruit business manager for Baika Fruits Chile and Peru, referring to the origin of this operation, which began to take shape in September 2023. It was then, following a strategic decision, that the Baika team traveled to Brazil to assess the fruit's conditions on the ground. “We saw that Brazil is a very interesting origin to develop,” he emphasizes.

The fruit was carefully selected in the field, prioritizing those lots with high dry matter content (27%) and excellent health, to ensure uniform ripening and optimal performance at the destination. “We did fieldwork to select the healthiest and most homogeneous fruit. That gave us confidence for this first experience,” Peragallo explains.

The process involved a coordinated chain with three actors: field production, the Carlini packing facility, and joint marketing between The Fruits and Baika Fruits. This structure allowed them to cover the entire cycle from harvest to delivery, which was key to guaranteeing quality.

While the logistical challenge was significant, given the novelty of the origin, the experience was positive. “In terms of logistics, Chile already imports mangoes, limes, and watermelons from Brazil, so we were familiar with the flows. The most critical aspect was complying with all the sanitary requirements,” he explains. To this end, multi-residue analyses and dry matter measurements were carried out at various points in the process. “We found no issues, which speaks to the thorough preparation involved.”

Regarding the product's performance in the Chilean market, Baika Fruits has received an encouraging response. “The acceptance has been very good. We conducted blind taste tests comparing Chilean, Peruvian, and Brazilian fruit. Chile stood out, but Brazil was surprisingly close,” Peragallo notes. The product is already being sold in supermarkets and wholesale channels, with promising results.

Looking ahead, Baika Fruits plans to expand exports from Brazil this season, especially from the state of Minas Gerais, whose harvest extends into August or September. “We are already in talks with new producers. Brazil has enormous potential,” they anticipate.

Currently, Brazil produces between 25 and 30 million kilos of avocados annually, but it is estimated that this figure could quadruple in the next four years, reaching 100 million kilos. Baika Fruits is clear about its role in this process: “Brazil can be a competitive source, capable of complementing Chile and competing with Peru in certain market opportunities.”

This operation is also part of Baika Fruits' global strategy of expansion and diversification of origins. "We are always looking at new origins, both in the Americas and in Africa and Europe. Brazil is currently one of our priority focuses," Peragallo concludes.

With a strategic vision, a focus on quality and precise execution, Baika Fruits consolidates its position as one of the most dynamic players in the South American fruit business, now with Brazil as its new strong contender.