“The best export fruit from the north of Chile.” This has been the motto of the Compania Fruta del Norte Company since its founding just three years ago. It was started by partner producers with more than 50 years of experience in the fruit industry. Tradition and prestige are the concepts that best define the Compania Frutera del Norte.

The fourth region is one of the best areas in all of Chile to grow fruit. Just one hour by air and five hours by land outside of Santiago, the lands of the fourth region, specifically on the Limari Valley (San Lorenzo-El Palqui-Huallillinga-Recoleta and on the Elqui Valley (Rivadavia-Vicuna) are semi-desert climactic conditions which provide the best growing conditions for grape, kiwi, plum, peaches and nectarine. Its modern irrigation system, as well as its fertile grounds and warm climate characterize the land. To preserve this freshness, Compania Fruta del Norte works day by day to assure the highest quality fruit. For example, pre-refrigeration chambers, cold storage and ionized chambers are facilities for optimizing the condition of picked fruit so that the consumer receives a fresher, healthier, top-quality fruit.

Its principal fruit is the grape such as the Sugrone, Flame Seedless, Tompson Seedless, Moscatel Rosada and red Globe. This past season CFN exported about two million boxes of grapes. They are hoping to be up to three million boxes within the next five years. This process requires time, care and technical support.

Why support the U.S.- Chile free trade agreement? Isaac Bonn, managing director of CFN states that with this agreement, profit margins will increase. This means that more money can be invested into new technology, modern machinery and research, meaning a better quality product for the customer. An expanded research effort will provide greater knowledge of the behavior of the fruits, which in turn contributes to the strengthening and the quality of the fruit. “It helps us to be more competitive,” says Bonn. “We are willing to invest as much as we need to guarantee freshness.”

Compania Fruta del Norte, exports 96 percent of its fruit production. Of this 50 percent goes to the United States, 20 percent to Asia, 20 percent to Mexico, five percent to Europe and another 5 percent to Latin America. A few of these countries, include Holland, Italy, France, and the UK.

With such prestigious markets as these it is no wonder Compania Frutera del Norte strives to assure the highest quality fruit, and are on track to meet their five-year projections.