<p> Due to the recent frosts in Chile, fruit shortages may soon be driving rising costs for cherry prices. With the recent Corazón de Paloma and Early Burlat harvests, the cherry season started off with good prices, but consumers are already starting to pay up to 1,800 pesos per kilo compared to growers who are paying 1,000 pesos, according to La Discusion.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> The September Chilean frost has delayed the harvest for some varieties of cherries, resulting in local and national shortages of the fruit. Nevertheless, the Corazón de Paloma variety, which is produced by small growers in Quinchamalí and Quillón, was able to escape the damage thanks to the region’s microclimate.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Gabriela Muñoz, along with other leaders of Comercial Quinchamalí, which unites 62 growers in the area, said that purchases had started this week and that the Corazón de Paloma was 650 pesos per kilo. Teresa Gazmuri, one of Comercial Quinchamalí’s associates, said that the season is expected to be good and they hope to have varieties for fresh export.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Elena Yáñez, a cherry tree agronomist, said that although initial estimates suggested there would be no major damages from the frost, it turned out that 50% of the fruit had been damaged. The situation will be better known when the black and late varieties have been harvested, which are the most exported products from the region.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> As one of the largest providers of cherries in the world, the drop in production volume has affected Chile as a whole. Yáñez says that the price being guaranteed by exporting companies is already reaching four to five U.S. dollars compared to a dollar last year, so the price will offset the decline in production.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue our coverage on the rising costs of Chilean cherries.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" http://www.diarioladiscusion.cl/index.php/economia/31508-escasez-de-fruta-dispara-los-precios-de-las-cerezas-de-nuble" target="_new"> La Discusion </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
