Chilean Blueberry Harvest Affected by Wildfires During W6

During W6 in Chile, farms have been unable to reach harvest tasks due to recent road closures caused by forest wildfires. Blueberries present poor conditions due to smoke. Burned soils are unlikely to be used again as they lose their natural effectiveness and needed biological conditions. Soil recovery time varies from two to five years to become productive again, and fruit plantations can take between three to five years to enter commercial production, resulting in a loss of six to ten years. The impact of this event will affect the fruit industry in Chile, particularly for small and medium-sized growers who rely on the timely harvesting and sale of their crops.