Production of all three types of fresh deciduous fruit is forecast to rise in Argentina for the 2017/18 season, according to a new GAIN report from the US Department of Agriculture.
Apples are expected to come in at 550,000 tonnes during the year, the report predicted, up from 530,000 tonnes in 2017, the result of good weather conditions compared with the hail and late frost-hit campaign of the year before.
Pear volumes are forecast to jump to 600,000 tonnes from 530,000 tonnes, again benefiting from positive climatic conditions.
For 2017/18, fresh apple and pear exports are projected to increase from 76,000 tonnes to 80,000 MT and from 260,000 tonnes to 280,000 tonnes respectively, although exports for both fruits will remain below historical levels due to 'lack of competitiveness by Argentine producers', USDA reported.
Fresh table grape production is forecast to increase by almost 13 per cent to 45,000 tonnes, for marketing year 2017/18 due to 'relatively' good weather conditions. 'Excess rain affected fruit quality but not the volume,' the USDA said.
Fresh table grape exports for the 2017/18 marketing season are projected at 4,000 tonnes, down from 4,400 tonnes during the previous season.
