The Export-Production Decision of Chilean Farmers: The Case of Blueberry Producers

This article analyzes the relative importance of producers’ attributes and farms’ geographical characteristics in the decision to produce an exportable good (blueberries) in the southern region of Chile. Using farm-level data, a logit model is estimated to identify factors influencing the export-production decision. Results show that the probability of producing blueberries increases with the educational level of producers (a proxy for productivity), the presence of irrigation and drainage systems, and the availability of labor. The last factor, which arises from the proximity to large and urbanized regions, has a stronger effect on the export-production decisions of Chilean farms than either farmers’ education or farms’ physical characteristics.