In Chile’s central-southern zone, from Maule to Los Lagos, the hazelnut harvest is showing overall progress, although with differences among producers. On average, orchards have completed about three-quarters of the first pass, within a process that typically involves two to three rounds of collection.
While the season had been developing relatively normally, recent rainfall has changed the outlook. In areas such as Parral, close to 100 mm of rain has been recorded, significantly affecting harvest operations and potentially worsening if further weather events occur.
The main impact of these rains is related to the limited capacity for drying the nuts. Not all producers have the infrastructure to dry hazelnuts in a timely manner, which increases the risk of fungal development inside the shell. This not only affects quality but also directly reduces the commercial value of the lots.
In addition, high humidity conditions may force some producers to resort to manual harvesting, reducing operational efficiency and increasing costs.
Under this scenario, a more challenging-than-usual season is expected. Jorge Uslar, a hazelnut producer from Maule and director of the Hazelnut Committee, recommends prioritizing the collection of available fruit as soon as possible, using all available means to mitigate losses: “fast decision-making will be key in the coming weeks, especially in the face of further rainfall, to prevent quality deterioration and secure the highest possible value for the crop,” he stated.
