February finds us at the heart of the production season, experiencing one of the most intense and relevant moments of the year for Chile’s dried prune industry. With harvest in full swing, fieldwork, producer coordination, and industrial operations are moving forward simultaneously, setting the pace for these key weeks.
Full harvest season: coordinated work from the orchard
During February, weather conditions and harvest development shape many production decisions. At this stage, the focus is on continuous monitoring of fruit condition, harvest timing, and proper drying management—essential factors to ensure an efficient process and outstanding final quality.
The fruit drying process officially begins, reflecting the effort and commitment of our producers and agricultural teams, who work intensively to care for every detail from the orchard through the early stages of processing. This phase is decisive for the outcome of the entire season and requires precise coordination among all stakeholders involved.
For several weeks between January and February, rainfall was expected that could have had significant consequences for the harvest. However, precipitation was ultimately lower than anticipated, so the harvest will not be significantly affected.
Our producer Alejandro González, from Agrícola Don Lorenzo, began harvesting on February 2 and was the first to arrive at our drying yards with fresh fruit. Watch his testimonial here.
Our plant resumes operations after scheduled maintenance
In parallel with harvest progress, our production plant has resumed operations after completing the scheduled maintenance carried out during January. These maintenance activities are essential to prepare infrastructure, optimize processes, and ensure the plant is in optimal condition to handle the high seasonal volumes.
If you missed this news, we invite you to watch the testimonial of Alexander Tabares, Prunesco’s Maintenance Manager, who explains why preventive maintenance is a critical factor for operational continuity, equipment safety, and the quality of the final product we deliver to our customers. Watch the video here.
Chinese New Year 2026: a key milestone for the industry
The Chinese New Year 2026 will be celebrated tomorrow, Tuesday, February 17, marking the beginning of the Year of the Fire Horse, traditionally associated with dynamism, movement, and renewed activity. For Asian markets, this date represents a turning point in the commercial calendar, directly influencing logistics flows, purchasing decisions, and the planning of importers and distributors.
China has become the most important market for Chile in dried prune exports in recent years. In 2025, more than 24,000 tons of Chilean dried prunes were exported to this destination, confirming its position as the country’s leading buyer.
These figures reflect not only the volumes achieved, but also the strategic importance of this market for the development and sustained growth of the Chilean prune industry.
We continue moving forward through a demanding season, focused on quality, collaborative work, and the consistency that defines us, reaffirming our commitment to producers, customers, and the markets where Prunesco operates.
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Warm regards,
Prunesco SpA Team
