According to field-based information, harvest progress in the Maule region is estimated, on average, between 70% and 80%. While some growers are close to completing operations, others still show a greater lag; however, the overall average remains around 70% of the harvest completed.
Following the rains recorded in March—which delayed the start of the season—the past three to four weeks without precipitation have significantly supported harvest progress, allowing for smoother and more stable operations in orchards.
However, attention remains on the rainfall forecast for the Biobío region in the coming week. In this context, growers are prioritizing accelerated harvest progress ahead of this weather event. This is because, after rainfall, mechanical harvesting could be severely limited, especially in soils with higher clay content, where machinery access becomes highly complex or even unfeasible.
In the southern zone, an increased presence of stink bugs has also been observed, prompting farmers to reinforce monitoring and control protocols. This pest has been gaining incidence and is projected to become a relevant challenge for upcoming seasons, requiring more rigorous and preventive management.
Overall, other factors have not posed major issues so far. However, it is anticipated that orchards that have not achieved adequate drying of the fruit may face difficulties, particularly due to limitations in processing and drying capacity. This situation could lead to complications at the time of delivering production.
In this regard, Chile’s processing, drying, and post-harvest handling capacity had already been identified before the season as insufficient to meet the sector’s real needs, considering the sustained expansion of European hazelnut acreage. Therefore, it becomes essential for growers to assess their processing infrastructure—especially in new plantings or expansions—and consider incorporating their own machinery or ensuring access to nearby services, as operating without adequate capacity at this critical stage is not viable.
