Chilean mussels set to take 2nd place
The word “chorito” may one day be heard in places beyond the local Chilean fish market. The “chorito” is the Mytilus chilensis, or rather the blue mussel – the Western Hemisphere’s most popular and often most preferred culinary mussel. For decades the European species Mytilus edulis was the most recognized blue mussel throughout the principal mussel market, and Spain is unquestionably the leader in blue mussel production. In general terms the world’s largest mussel producer by far is China, but China consumes all that it produces and the species are different. Chile is currently the world’s fourth largest producer, with exports totalling US$ 70 million. However, the country is in the midst of a strong upward climb in production that some national analysts predict will surpass Spain within the next five years. Spain in fact is the largest investor in mussel production in Chile, 90% of which is realized in the Tenth Region, also known as Chile’s salmon region.
