Southern storm's damage to cause imminent rise in vegetable, milk, and meat prices

Consumers in Chile are bracing for higher prices as a severe storm batters the country's southern regions. The recent frontal system has devastated agricultural lands in Los Ríos and La Araucanía, leading to widespread crop destruction and infrastructure damage. This impact is projected to cause a sustained rise in the cost of vegetables, milk, and meat in the coming weeks.

Camilo Guzmán, president of Agricultores Unidos (United Farmers), highlighted the immediate consequences. "The storm left waterlogged pastures, lost fodder, and greenhouses on the ground," he stated. "In the coming weeks, this translates into more expensive vegetables and pressure on the cost of producing milk and meat."

Beyond the immediate weather event, the farming sector points to deeper, structural market problems that leave them vulnerable. "The underlying damage is different: this event was announced a long time ago, and the countryside faced it undercapitalized, because when the price is set by a single buyer, the price lies," Guzmán explained. "And a lying price leaves no room to invest or adapt. We are not asking for subsidies, we are asking for honest prices that allow the food producer in this country to survive."

The storm's effects extend beyond agriculture, with power outages reported in areas like Malleco province. Communities in La Unión, Panguipulli, Futrono, and Valdivia have also experienced severe flooding, forcing school closures and displacing local families. Farmers are urging for equitable commercial conditions and efficient preventive management, rather than just state assistance.