It’s a delicate task that can only be performed by hand.
Like every year, this Chilean orchard employs hundreds of seasonal workers to harvest blueberries to be exported worldwide.
Though this season’s crop is a strong one, it has come late. The unusual spring-time cold has slowed down the ripening process… and some varieties are still not ready for harvest.
Chile is the world’s first exporter of blueberries and its main producer in the Southern Hemisphere.
Demand has soared in recent years thanks to a growing interest from China and Europe, even though the US remains by far the first consumer of the antioxidant and fiber rich fruit.