Eight leading companies from Chile’s fruit industry — with extensive experience in production, export, and international commercialization — announced the creation of the new BabyPlum® Club, an unprecedented alliance aimed at driving a new premium category of high-sweetness plums and positioning it globally through long-term collaborative work.
The creation of the Club marks a milestone for Chile’s fruit industry: leading players have decided to work together with a consumer centric approach, developing a differentiated product with high standards at origin.
The project is led by Hortifrut Genetics, a global genetic innovation platform with more than 20 years of experience in research, varietal development, and international licensing. Its portfolio includes berries and high-value fruit such as cherries and premium plums, with varieties adopted by growers in different markets. With an approach that integrates genetics, agronomy, and consumer experience, Hortifrut Genetics also supports the development and international licensing of third-party genetics. As the holder of the global license for the second generation of the BabyPlum® program, Hortifrut Genetics coordinates the Club, safeguards the intellectual property, and guides the development of the category for international markets.
Ibergen Frutales, a benchmark company in stone fruit breeding based in Spain, provides the varietal foundation underpinning the BabyPlum® program, developed over years of technical work and rigorous selection. Its breeding programs combine selection and evaluation under different production conditions to ensure performance and quality.
The work will cover the entire production chain: from genetic breeding to field validation in order to define technical and production standards, with the aim of delivering a consistent premium experience across different markets. The joint work is focused on product development, while each company maintains its own commercial management. Juan
Ignacio Allende, member of the Advisory Board of Hortifrut Genetics and one of the drivers of the project, said: “This is very positive news for Chile’s fruit industry. The fact that eight leading companies in the sector have chosen to work with Hortifrut Genetics to select, test, and develop a premium plum program in Chile is a significant milestone. It reflects a shift in the way the country positions itself internationally, focusing on high-value fruit that can deliver differentiated experiences for consumers. This is a very strong trend in today’s most demanding markets.”
