Packhouses in Mendoza are virtually at a standstill due to a lack of fruit. A report in Los Andes said the September freeze had caused severe losses to the region’s stonefruit production. The government says that around 70,000ha were affected, resulting in the loss of up to 85 per cent of peach production, 85 per cent of plums and 75 per cent of cherries. Losses are estimated to be in the region of US$1.3bn.
Local grower-packer Arturo Anaya said the situation was so bad that there wasn’t even enough fruit available for processing. “There is very little activity in the packhouses – hardly any peaches have made it to the fresh market and there is no apricot volume to speak of at all,” he said.
At a meeting of a group of around 30 regional producers at the offices of the Chamber of Commerce, industry and Agriculture, the consensus was that practically no fruit would be available for the fresh market this season. Around 3,000 jobs are believed to be under threat as a result.
This is the latest in a series of disastrous seasons for Mendoza’s stonefruit industry. Producers have struggled with low prices since 2007/08, and two years ago hailstorms caused significant damage across the region. Damían Sánchez of Cayetano Sánchez said the company no longer exported to Europe as a result of recent losses. He estimates that even in a good year, packhouses handle half the volume they did prior to 2008.
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