That is where the newest varieties of apples, pears, stone fruit and table grapes grow in months that are winter in the northern hemisphere.

ECONOMIST: Chile

The modern-minded Mr Betancourt advocates mechanisation, but he then admits that table grapes, tree fruit and strawberries crops that bruise easily will always have to be picked by hand.

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Although table grapes are by far the main fruit export, Chile began exporting wines in a significant way in the 1980s and achieving important world market shares in the 1990s.

ECONOMIST: Stranded on the farm?

But it's those same growers who are now complaining that they aren't able to find American workers who are willing to pick a variety of crops that can't be harvested by machine -- peaches, plums, apples, lettuce, tomatoes, avocadoes, nectarines, strawberries, blueberries, apricots, table grapes, etc.

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But 80% of the grapes are grown as fruit for the table grape market.

FORBES: Magazine Article

While the port wine industry remains strong, local grapes are now also being used to make fine red and white table wines that are attracting much foreign interest.

BBC: The changing landscape of the Douro River Valley

As the vines have to struggle and stress as they extend the roots through the thin layer of terra rossa and the limestone to the water table, growth of the vine is limited to producing low yielding, intensely flavoured grapes, ideal for making premium wine.

ECONOMIST: Letters