Where to enjoy cherry picking in the Southern Hemisphere this summer?

Chile Fruit Buying Guide ⬇️

Summer is here, and delicious fruits from Chile are hitting the market one after another. It’s such a joy to stroll through the markets now, with everything being affordable and abundant, making you want to buy everything in sight!

Cherries 🍒 Cherries
This year, cherry production is quite high. Red cherries are generally around 1000 pesos per kilogram, and golden cherries can be found everywhere in the market for about 3000 pesos per kilogram. Last time, I bought a 10-kilogram box for 25000 pesos, which is incredibly cheap compared to prices back home.

Mangoes 🥭 Mangoes
With summer here, I finally get to enjoy the sweet and fragrant mangoes (I developed a special fondness for the smell of mangoes when I read “The House on Mango Street” as a child). The current mangoes have less fiber, making them more enjoyable to eat. They cost around 3000 pesos per kilogram.

Blueberries 🫐 Blueberries
You can’t go wrong with buying blueberries now; they are so good that you won’t be able to stop eating them. In the market, they are usually sold by the box, with each box weighing one kilogram and costing around 3500 pesos.

Papayas Papayas
Many people don’t know that papayas are available year-round in Chile. However, they are not commonly found in regular supermarkets and are mostly available in large markets. Papayas are delicious but not cheap. Similar to the varieties often eaten in China, they are larger in Chile, with one papaya typically costing between 8000-10000 pesos.

Apricots Apricots
On my recent trip to the market, I saw a vendor bringing in a cart full of apricots. They looked great, and I tried one; it wasn’t very sweet but just right, and most importantly, it was very fresh.

Plums Plums
The plums recently have been really good, with a slightly sour skin and sweet, juicy flesh. They cost around 2000 pesos per kilogram.

Here’s the address for shopping:
Vega Central de Santiago
Dávila Baeza 700, Recoleta, Región Metropolitana

It’s the largest wholesale market in Chile, bustling with people from the early hours of the morning. If you’re buying for personal use, it’s best to go around noon. Going too early can be very crowded, and going too late might leave you with leftovers.

Regarding La Vega, don’t believe the exaggerated rumors about poor security. It’s just a regular market where the vast majority of people come to shop. Just be cautious. But remember, do not go on weekends; it gets extremely crowded, and safety concerns can arise.