Argentina: Cranberry production estimates growth between 6% and 8%

22/06/2015

Every year we do a census, which we update with the producers we have in the area. Last year we had 990 hectares and this year we are in the 1040 hectares, said Gonzalo Carlazara - Surveyor and Technical Advisor of APAMA. The expectations mark a growth of between 6 and 8% in reference to the previous year, therefore the sector would produce under normal conditions more than 11 thousand tons of fruit. It should be noted that the sector has programs of accompaniment, incentive and protection due to climatic threats; what ensures productive tranquility.

In 2014, 10 was harvested a thousand tons of which an 80% was exported to countries such as Russia, China, the United States, Hong Kong / China, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.

According to data provided by Carlazara, two varieties are being produced in Concordia. Emerald and SnowChaser; "The most produced variety is Emerald, good quality fruit, firm, with good wax, color size. (...) And the other variety is SnowChaser, (...) It is of good quality, not as good as Emerald, but the advantage it has is that it is a complement to that to leave at the end of August to the market. Snow Chaser, is a very temporary fruit here in the area, by the end of August we have fruit, all September until the 20 or 25 in OctoberHe explained. That is to say, that the second mentioned is the option to go out to the market sooner, since the fruit of greater value, is only harvested for October.

Although that option to complement production would be coming out for the eighth month of the year, it is also noted that the amount of fruit produced by the plant is lower. "In terms of production, there is also the difference; each plant produces between 6 and 7 kilos, and the Snow Chaser produces less, between 4 and 5 kilos"Completed the advisor.

Each variant of the plant contains specific characteristics; size, taste, color. "The wax also, (the protein that covers them) some have more others have less. Some lose it more easily, others not so much"Carlazara said. He also completed: "Emerald is a slightly more acid variety. And that is an important point the relationship that will have between sugars and acids" He emphasized that the producers in the area are emphasizing the taste as the competition in South America is increasing every time. "In Argentina we produce, Tucumán, Corrientes, Concordia. And we have competition with Chile, Peru, Uruguay. So when the buyer has so much competition, he goes by choosing the flavor".

He also affirmed that other non-traditional varieties are still being studied. Every year between two and three more plantations are studied and it is evaluated if it is adaptable to the soil and climatic conditions. But he confirmed the possibility of continuing to expand the offer. "In Argentina, Concordia has very favorable agroclimatic conditions for this; It needs very sandy soil, that does not have a lot of water retention, that has a lot of porosity. Acid soils The quality of the water Then we comply with those minimum characteristics for the development of the plant, we have excellent irrigation quality. Although these varieties have no problem of development, they all grow without problems but it may be that for example the harvest is later"He counted.

Harvest time is a highlight; since the price of the fruit in the market will depend on this. A kilo of blueberry for the producer has a cost of between 3,50 and 4 dollars; the cost in September is around 7 dollars for what the producer would earn 100%. As the season progresses, the cost decreases, reaching approximately $ 3,80, so the excess over the cost would be minimal. The lowest pay is close to the month of November when they would be working with 50% of the harvest.

In relation to production and expectations this year are positive. According to the latest agroclimatic data of this 2015 by the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) the conditions will be favorable with the accompaniment of average temperatures and scarce but regular rains.

It is worth noting that the NEA region is made up of Concordia and Corrientes, although the province of the north only has 7 hectares of plantation. "We (Concordia) last year export 8 thousand tons which means between an 80% of the surface. So they left 10 a thousand tons. That difference that exists, remains in the domestic market, which is destined for local industry, is frozen; juice is made, jelly, jam, sweetsCarlazara explained.

He also considered: "For this year the harvest estimate, with those 1040 hectares, is between 8.500 and 9000 tons. We will be growing between an 6% and an 8%".

Source: Diariojunio.com.ar