San José Farms: 40 years of leadership and transformation in Chilean agriculture
With a history spanning more than 40 years, San José Farms has evolved into an agricultural leader in Chile, standing out for its ability to overcome challenges and commit to high-impact projects.
Over the past six years, the company has developed large-scale initiatives, including the outstanding Huertos de Ucuquer project , which covers 1,200 hectares, including 700 dedicated exclusively to avocado, planted between 2021 and 2024.
Promising results from central Chile
In 2024, the first phase of Huertos de Ucuquer delivered promising results. The initial 70 hectares of avocado trees achieved yields between 5,000 and 8,000 kilos per hectare in their first year of production, exceeding average expectations. 
This San José Farms orchard, located in Litueche, in Chile's sixth region, alongside the Rapel River, was the first to be harvested, thanks to its vigorous growth and strategic management. Furthermore, its early harvest window allowed access to international markets with high demand and competitive prices, especially for larger sizes, with 80% of the fruit falling into sizes 60, 50, and 40.
It is worth noting that the project has unique characteristics. Despite being located on clay soils, which are less suitable for avocado cultivation due to their susceptibility to root asphyxiation, innovative solutions were implemented.
These solutions include a sprinkler irrigation design that optimizes moisture without saturating the soil and the selection of adapted flowering plants. Furthermore, the field's climate—characterized by a moderate coastal influence, absence of significant frosts, and excellent water quality from the Rapel River—complements these measures, creating an optimal environment for avocado tree development. It is important to note that all these variables related to soil complexity were considered from the project planning stage, which allowed for the implementation of effective and timely strategies.
Looking ahead to 2025, San José Farms anticipates bringing an additional 200 hectares into production, totaling 270 productive hectares, with an estimated yield of 1.6 million kilograms of avocados. The initial goal is to stabilize productivity at 15 tons per hectare, with the ambitious aim of reaching up to 18 tons per hectare in the future. These achievements reinforce San José Farms' commitment to avocados as a strategic crop, both for the domestic market and to meet growing global demand.
San José Farms reaffirms its commitment to innovation, sustainability and agricultural excellence, successfully facing the challenges of the environment and positioning itself as a key player in Chilean and international agriculture.
