Asianometry From Wheat to Cherries in Chile
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Dec 11, 2025 Explore Chile's captivating agricultural evolution from a wheat powerhouse in the 1800s to a leading fruit exporter today. Discover how diverse climates and rich soils in the Central Valley created a thriving horticulture scene. Delve into the impact of historical land reforms and the tumult of social changes, alongside the rise of global supermarkets. Uncover the delicate balance of modern fruit exports and the looming threat of a mega drought. A journey through Chile's vibrant agricultural landscape reveals both triumphs and challenges.
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Geography Explains Agricultural Variety
- Chile's long, narrow geography creates extreme climatic and soil diversity across short distances.
- The Central Valley combines Mediterranean climate, volcanic ash soils, and mountain water making it ideal for varied agriculture.
Haciendas Locked Up Fertile Land
- For 40 years after independence Chile had virtually no commercial agriculture because Spaniards prioritized mining and large hacienda estates.
- Estates mainly raised cattle and used inquilinos for labor, leaving most fertile land unused without irrigation.
Export Demand Drove Rapid Agricultural Change
- External demand shocks (California gold rush, Australian shortages) triggered Chile's 19th-century wheat boom.
- That boom drove massive land conversion, seasonal labor, mechanization, and structural change in rural labor relations.