The production of stonefruit and pears in Argentina’s northern province of Mendoza are predicted to “grow strongly” this season, providing there are no intense hailstorms, according to experts at the Mendozan Institute for Rural Development (IDR).
The evaluation is based on production at 12,000 agricultural farms located in the four producing oases of Mendoza (excluding melons and table grapes), IDR explained in a report by Terra Argentina.
Fresh peach production in the region should rise by 71 per cent in 2010/11, IDR said, while the crop for processing will grow by 31 per cent to reach a total of more than 80,000 tonnes.
The fresh plum crop could also increase by 75 per cent to more than 28,000 tonnes, according to the organisation, with the volume headed for processing set to reach 160,000 tonnes.
In the topfruit category, IDR estimates the Mendozan pear crop to rise by 49 per cent to 98,000 tonnes. On the other hand, apple volume is set to fall by 6.7 per cent.
