The company’s international expansion has remained strong in 2025 and 2026 through participation in several trade shows and by creating value for Latin American retailers’ private-label brands, among other initiatives.
This is according to Alejandra Guerrero, Export Manager at Baika, the export arm of the San José Farms group of companies, which has nearly 5,000 hectares planted with fresh fruit (avocados, oranges, mandarins, lemons, cherries, blueberries, among others) and dried fruit (walnuts and almonds).
In the case of plums, they work with third-party producers. However, among the new developments planned for the medium term (2027) is the planting of approximately 200 hectares of plums (various varieties) in the Litueche area.
Baika’s exports of prunes in 2025 totaled 1,523 tons, while this year’s exports are projected to reach 1,700 tons.
Baika has been a brand associated with Chileprunes for just over a year. And the experience “has been very positive, as it has allowed us to maintain more frequent contact with the industry—not only on specific occasions but also by actively participating in committees and strategic decision-making forums, such as the Marketing Committee that is managing the promotional campaign for Chilean prunes in India,” she notes.
Strong Presence at Trade Shows
Baika is also an active participant in international conferences and trade shows, always taking a strategic approach to the markets it aims to expand into and identifying where the future of plums (and other fruits) lies in the medium and long term. Last year, the company participated in Anuga (Germany), the world’s largest food and beverage trade show; at APAS in Brazil; and this year it attended Gulfood in Dubai, among others.
“Now, in May, as partners, we’re going to the INC World Nut & Dried Fruit Congress in Macau (China), and then to Amsterdam for the PLMA (Private Label Manufacturers Association), which is a trade show focused on private labels—exactly what we’re looking to promote. Next, we will be at SIAL in France, and we will wrap up with another PLMA event in Chicago,” adds Alejandra Guerrero.
This initiative is part of a clear strategy: to strengthen its value proposition in the private label segment. In the region, Baika supplies major chains such as Walmart, Cencosud, and Carrefour, among others.
“Private labels have carved out a significant niche in the global retail sector, particularly in the food industry. “We don’t just export products; we develop comprehensive solutions for supermarkets, including final packaging with the customer’s brand from Chile for the local market, and we also export to Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico,” explains Guerrero. This model involves a high level of integration, where design, packaging, and shipping are handled at the source, generating efficiency and value for retailers.
In terms of markets, the company has observed interesting trends during the current prune season. While China has historically been a key player—accounting for nearly a third of the demand—this 2026 Europe has shown a faster pace of purchasing, closing deals earlier than in previous years.
However, Guerrero warns that it is still too early to speak of structural diversification. “Europe has gotten off to a strong start, but there is still a significant amount of fruit left to sell. China remains essential for balancing the market and sustaining prices,” she says. In this context, while prices per kilogram in Europe may be higher, the costs associated with processing mean that the final return is generally more favorable in the Chinese market.
A Story of Entrepreneurship
Thirty-one years ago, Chilean agricultural entrepreneur Ignacio Del Río had a vision: to break away from the status quo and embark on a path of innovation that would revolutionize the local and global agricultural industry. In the Araucanía Region, he pioneered blueberry farming.
His success led him to explore and establish himself in various new areas, acquire new fields, and forge alliances and mergers with key players in the local industry, adding new products such as avocados, citrus fruits, walnuts, and almonds, among other crops, which would positively diversify his product offerings.
This is how the commitment to innovation took another significant step forward with the creation of Baika, an export company that cut out the middlemen and established a virtuous, integrated supply chain to produce and export directly to various markets around the world in a clean, fast, and efficient manner.
