Cherry output in Argentina’s three major producing zones is likely to increase during the coming 2011/12 season, according to estimates from local sources.
The positive outlook comes on the back of a good winter period and new orchards entering into production in the central growing area of Río Negro/Neuquén and the southern Patagonia regions of Chubut-Santa Cruz.
Although it is too early to give an accurate forecast for the 2011/12 season – since frosts in Argentina tend to occur until late September– the crop should increase.
“Volume already looks to be bigger in Mendoza this year following abundant flowering and fructification,” Betina Ernst of Argentinean analyst Top Info Marketing told Fruitnet.com.
“In the southern regions, there should also be more fruit in line with the expansion in production there but as the orchards aren’t yet flowering we cannot say for sure.”
Last season, cherry sendings from Argentina jumped to 3,063 tonnes, up from 1,798 in the previous season, according to Top Info.
“Argentina’s cherry exports have been growing annually over the last few years –although more steadily than Chile,” Ernst explained.
“But one has to remember that exportable volume for cherries fluctuates very markedly since the fruit is very sensitive to different weather conditions such as frosts, hail, wind and rain.”
Argentina exports cherries to North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East.
The full report will be published in the October issue of Eurofruit Magazine.
