The large volume of apples and pears left unharvested in parts of Argentina’s Río Negro is behind a significant rise in the incidence of codling moth and other diseases.
According to local newspaper Diario Río Negro an estimated 200,000 tonnes of topfruit is being left to rot on trees in the Alto Valle area because the unfavourable exchange rate, inflationary pressure and fall in exports to key markets like Russia meant growers can no longer afford to harvest it.
Producers claim they have no choice as the ARS110m aid package promised by the state has yet to materialise.
