Argentina: Prepare the fifths to export blueberries

Argentina: They prepare the fifths to export blueberries

31/08/2016

The preparations in the blueberry fields of Tucumán continue without rest. The producers hope that they accompany the climatic conditions and that the fruit is ready to be harvested.

Francisco Estrada, president of Apratuc (Association of Blueberry Producers of Tucumán) and local producer was interviewed to find out how work is being done regarding the preparation of the farms and what are the perspectives that the sector has on this harvest that is approaching .

- How did the plantations arrive a few days after the harvest?

- In general, it can be said that plantations arrive with a better fruit load than last year, which was characterized as a period that had low production.

Unlike in recent years, almost no winter fruit has been produced, the whole volume will be seasonal and that will make us turn a lot of fruit for a few weeks.

The question is how the demand for fruit will behave and, therefore, the final price that our product will have.

This year a lot of effort is being made to improve the quality of the fruit.

These works are not only being done at the field level but also in packaging and conservation treatments during transit. With all these actions, we seek to arrive at our destination with a high quality product that ensures a good sale.

- How do you see the international market?

- While international blueberry consumption is expanding and growing year by year at a good rate, the offer also does the same and grows year by year.

In the market window that Argentina is in, we are no longer alone.

Peru has installed itself as a new supplier of blueberries for off-season from September to March, competing with the fruit provided by our companies.

The United States is already, little by little, demanding some fruit, so we expect that (demand) to take more pace towards the end of September, since the blueberry of the northern hemisphere has lost much quality and is scarce.

Europe and the United Kingdom still have some fruit from the later (production) areas of the continent, such as Poland for example. But this blueberry is already losing quality and will soon be consuming new counter-season fruit from our country.

- Is the blueberry fruit industry growing in Argentina?

- In our country, growth is rather moderate.

What is happening is a strong varietal change to change the productive profile of the fields that have been planted mainly in the period from 2004 to 2007.

Another stage of growth occurs in producers who enlarge their farms to acquire a larger scale.

There are also cases of new ventures, but these occur in companies that are commercially integrated. In our area, growth of 15% has been experienced.

- Will the work at the Benjamín Matienzo airport improve the shipment of fruit, and to what extent?

- The work of the airport is a great decision of the national and provincial governments.

This will greatly enhance the operational capacity of cargo planes in Tucumán. With the works we are going to be able to operate the 24 hours, without restriction. The supply of airplanes will be much greater since we will not depend on the free moments left by passenger transport planes, which opens up a great opportunity for the country to export a greater volume by air.

Traveling directly from Tucumán is very beneficial since we will be able to reach the markets more quickly, which at certain times is highly critical. On the other hand, in the weeks of peak production Ezeiza airport is totally collapsed.

Source: Lagaceta.com.ar