Guangzhou, Dec. 3, 2025 — Frutas de Chile has officially opened the 2025/26 Chilean cherry season [3] in China with a high-level event and the premiere of a new documentary highlighting the Chilean cherry industry’s strengths, quality and long-standing partnerships with Chinese stakeholders.

The ceremony featured welcome remarks by Dr. Charif Christian Carvajal, director for Asia and Europe at Frutas de Chile, followed by an address from Pablo Arriarán Ahumada, Chile’s ambassador to China, who highlighted the vital role of cherries in Chile–China trade relations.

Representing local authorities, Xie Shuibin, deputy director general of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Guangzhou Municipal People’s Government, reaffirmed Guangzhou’s importance as a gateway for imported fruit and its continued cooperation with Chile.

Video messages from Ivan Marambio, president of Frutas de Chile, and Claudia Soler, executive director of the Chilean Cherry Committee, outlined the season’s outlook and industry efforts in quality, sustainability and promotional activities across China.

Other distinguished guests included Gonzalo Rubilar, commercial consul at the Consulate General of Chile in Guangzhou; Marcela Poblete, vice consul of the Consulate General of Chile in Guangzhou; Wu Bingxiang, deputy director general of the Guangzhou Municipal Commerce Bureau; Liu Zuoren, director of Nansha Customs in Guangzhou; Gao Xiaodong, director of the Liaison Department of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade in Guangzhou; and Yang Bin, head of business development at China Media Group’s CCTV General Manager Office.

The event concluded with the premiere of the new CCTV-produced documentary “Sweet Miracle: The Fruit of Friendship.”

“This documentary highlights the passion for our fruit among the Chilean growers and the exporters who form the Chilean Cherry Committee of Frutas de Chile,” said Marambio. “The team from CCTV has done an excellent job showcasing the people, processes, and commitment to quality and food safety that each year allows delicious fresh cherries to arrive in peak condition after the long journey from Chile to China.”

Similarly, Soler added, “Promoting Chile — its geography, its natural resources, its gastronomy, and its people — is fundamental for greater export development and for strengthening its position in international markets. This documentary not only achieves this but also showcases the level of professionalism within this industry, which successfully reaches its primary destination market with a product of exceptional freshness and quality.”

Attended by major industry representatives from across the supply chain and key regional and national media outlets, the event marked the start of this season’s nationwide Chilean cherry promotions. Although fruit has been arriving in China by air freight since mid-October, the season will accelerate with the first 2025/26 season major ocean shipments [4] carrying larger volumes of Chilean cherries, scheduled to arrive this week. During the previous 2024/25 season, China imported over 546,000 metric tons of fresh cherries from Chile, worth approximately $3.3 billion, according to Frutas de Chile statistics.

Images: Frutas de Chile