Storyline Chile exports 90 percent of cherry harvest to China [Voice_over] As summer arrives in Chile, the country's cherry harvest is in full swing, with about 90 percent of the prized fruits exported to China. According to officials from the Chilean Cherry Committee, the country has exported 131,000 tons of cherries so far this year with about 112,000 shipped to China. The journey of a cherry from tree branch in Chile to fruit baskets in China is a multi-step process. In one cherry-growing area in central Chile, workers start at 6 am every day, with hand-picking preferred to machines due to the delicate nature of the fruit. [Sound_bite] Isolina Gonzalez, cherry picker: "My name is Isolina. I have been harvesting cherries here for several years. I handle them with extra care because cherries are very delicate, and they will travel a long way across the ocean to reach China." [Voice_over] During harvest, the fruit's color, firmness, and ripeness are assessed with suitable cherry clusters sent to sorting centers for even more assessments and packaging. The manager of one export company said one of the keys to maintaining fresh cherries during transport is temperature control. [Sound_bite] Gonzalo Ahumada, export manager, Chilean fruit export company: "Temperature control is crucial. That's why we follow strict procedures throughout the entire process to prevent any damage to the cherries from the moment they are picked until they arrive at the packing center, ensuring they are properly packed and loaded onto vessels." [Voice_over] To ensure cherries arrive fresh, Chile has doubled the number of charter trips to 32 and has reduced the amount of time it takes for sea transport by about three weeks. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]