Around 85% of blueberry growers in the northeastern part of Argentina have finished their fresh fruit harvests, marking an end to a successful season.
The Blueberry Producers’ Association of Mesopotamia Argentina (APAMA) said the Northeast Argentina (NEA) region – comprising Entre Rios, Corrientes and Misiones – led the country’s exports of the fruit with more than 8,000 metric tons (MT) until week 48.
In other areas, Tucumán and Salta had shipped 5,900MT and Buenos Aires had sent 2,000MT.
APAMA president Juan Scordia said this leadership was “due, without a doubt, to the great efforts of producers, agronomists and workers, who managed to revere a disastrous 2013 for the sector and position us at the top of exports, leading production of early fruit in the Southern Hemisphere”.
Figures released by the Argentinean Blueberry Committee (ABC) said the country had exported 16,225MT of the antioxidant-rich berry to date, with seafreight shipments set to continue until week 52.
The U.S. has continued to be the region’s leading export destination, which is estimated to receive a total of around 10,000MT for the whole season. NEA growers also ship fruit to Canada, the U.K., Asia and elsewhere.
12/03/14
Fresh Fruit Portal
