The pandemic is causing people to define new modes of behavior after the crisis, and that includes a redefinition of how to do business. In the case of horticulture, the consumption of quality food will continue to be in demand, so the logistics chain and supply must adapt, rather than stop. That is what Fedefruta is at this time facing this huge health crisis, so it has sought new ways to move forward and maintain the trade in fruit and vegetables.

Thus, as the situation of COVID-19 has accelerated digital processes and virtual meetings, becoming essential in this new way of conducting business, this year the traditional International Business Round, Fair and Fruittrade Convention of Fedefruta organized with the support of ProChile since 2003, it will not be carried out in the face-to-face way that everyone knows, with a single massive event in Santiago.

Because Fruittrade 2020 will become FruitCARE, a blended event in three strategic areas of Chilean fruit growing, Ovalle (Coquimbo), O'Higgins and Ñuble, under the concept of auto cinema and with all the measures to safeguard social distance, in the that the producers will be able to install themselves with their vehicles and see, in front of a giant screen, the interventions of experts and authorities during the convention.

"Attendees will arrive in their vehicles, they will be able to arrange them in a spacious and well-kept space, with a view and support for all the activities that take place, and all the appropriate services to make this FruitCARE a meeting point after the pandemic, considering all social distance care ", commented the president of Fedefruta, Jorge Valenzuela.

Producers and exporters attending FruitCARE will have the option of having online meetings with importers from all over the world interested in Chilean fruit. This time, we will take advantage of the scope of digital media for virtual appointments with buyers from Asia, the Americas and Europe. "The Business Roundtable is the soul of Fruittrade, and FruitCARE will take care of having all the technology for buyers to hold meetings with the same producers during the event," added the leader.

This unpublished version of the annual meeting of Fedefruta and ProChile will take place in the Coquimbo (Ovalle), O’Higgins and Ñuble regions, strategic territories of national fruit production.

"What we have done is reinvent the main meeting of Chilean fruit growing, since our duty is to ensure that the industry and producers can continue their work of harvesting and shipping, despite the pandemic, that they continue to make contact with buyers and can acquire knowledge for the new business scenarios that we are facing, "says Valenzuela. "On previous occasions we have been able to bring more than 2000 producers and exporters to Santiago for the Fruittrade, but now what we will do is take the event to three strategic areas, with their own characteristics and potentials, where the fruit growers are."

In this way, O'Higgins stands out for being the region that registers the largest number of hectares of fruit trees, the greatest diversity of species, and producers of absolutely all sizes. Ñuble, for its part, "will be the main fruit and vegetable pole of Chile in the next generations, due to its climate, soil and water availability appropriate for the production of species with high market value", as indicated by the president of the union, while Ovalle, "is constantly changing with its fruit growing despite all the difficulties caused by the water crisis."

Finally, in August, Fedefruta and ProChile will carry out virtual export workshops, as a prelude to FruitCARE. "There are many issues that have accelerated in these months, and many scenarios that have changed and we must understand them," concludes Valenzuela. "We will have rapporteurs who will take care of updating us in this regard and help us understand the productive and commercial redefinitions that we are experiencing in 2020."

Ovalle: October 7

O'Higgins: October 28

Ñuble: November 11