This crop's boom took place in the nineties, however, the appearance of the Peruvian asparagus in the market has changed the landscape because Peru has comparative advantages to produce them on a larger scale throughout the year, while the season in Chile only runs from mid-September to December.
"Peru destines 40% of their production for the industry, i.e. canned and preserved asparagus, while the remaining 60% are fresh. We can't compete against them in that segment because they can supply the world market throughout the year, thanks to their climate, so they only have to worry about controlling two variables: water and nutrients," said Jorge Ocampo, an agronomist and producer of El Carmen who is also the president of the Association of Asparagus Producers from South Central Chile.
Ocampo highlighted the great development experienced by the fruit and vegetable industry in the neighboring country due to the works that have allowed them to irrigate thousands of hectares of desert, driving the water from the forest via tunnels that go through the mountains to the coast. In fact, Chilean supermarkets offer asparagus of Peruvian origin.
Ñuble
55% of the surface of asparagus in the country is located in Ñuble, mainly in the districts of the central valley and the foothills, such as San Carlos, El Carmen, Chillán, Coihueco, and Pinto.
Most producers of asparagus have an average of 10 hectares, which makes them medium-sized producers, but they are greatly concerned with safety and traceability issues.
Quality
The union leader said he wasn't afraid of Peru, and argued that there was a significant difference in quality between the two products. The Peruvian asparagus, he said, is more lignified (i.e. hard and woody), because of the soil and climate conditions, while the Chilean asparagus has a better quality. It is more palatable and turgid, thanks to the soil and temperature fluctuations between day and night, which gives it a milder flavor, an attribute that is better paid by the most demanding markets.
In this regard, he said, there is a market for everything. He also highlighted the growing demand in Asia, as well as the focus on specific niches, where the Chilean asparagus' quality and product safety are major differentiators.
Challenges
"We have not taken advantage of our internal market," Ocampo said when he started to list the challenges of the sector, which include its major objectives: adding value to the product, such as product calibration and blanching; incorporating technology in the processes; increasing yields, with the incorporation of new varieties; and, in the long term, working on the marketing chain.
To do this, he said, it is vital to strengthen associativity between producers, which is why 16 producers representing 30% of the national production of asparagus formed the Hortofrutícola Bio Bio Technology Transfer Group, which seeks to improve the technology, performance, and profitability of the crops. The group, which was formed five years ago, is managed by INIA Quilamapu, and has made technological tours as well as introduce new varieties that have raised the average yield from 4-5 tons to 10-12 tons per hectare.
Similarly, 12 producers formed the Associative Development Project (Profo) Hortofrutícola from the Bio Bio, under Corfo, which accounts for 20% of the national production of asparagus. This group is also making progress in introducing varieties that have better yields and the characteristics being demanded in the international market, as well as increasing the planted area. In the long term, the members of this profo are committed to giving further steps concerning associativity, which can include the creation of a business association to negotiate together with exporters and, eventually, generate the necessary investments so that they can export their products directly to foreign markets.
