In the middle of a growth prognosis of 23.9% for this year's harvest, with better quality and fruit size, the export of pear and apple is on a low, with the sector declaring a crisis due to costs rise.
The pear harvesting started this month the Rao Negro and Neuqun's Valleys and February will be the stronger month for apple. An analysis from the National University of Comahue estimated for this season, that Rao Negro will produce 1.4 million tons of these fruits and Neuqun, 215,955 tons. Moreover, technical studies anticipated that the harvest will offer apple and pear with better quality and size, compared to last year.
The reference price of fruit for the contracts between farmers and packagers, for a value of US$0.35 per kilo of pear and apple, according to ratification by the Fruits Contracts Table, bringing together the State, producers, academic centres and exporters.
Although, the sector is on a crisis due to an average rise of 25% of costs and low external demand. In the last year, exporting decreased, with 13.41% less of exported apples and 12.09% less of pears, according to info from the shipments from the port terminal "Patagonia Norte", in the port of "San Antonio Este".
In 2010, 101,419 tons of apples and 224,243 tons of pears were exported (while in 2009 it was 117,132 tons of apples and 255,079 tons of pears) which had as main destinations Russia, the Netherlands, Italy, Algeria, United States and Belgium.
Carlos Colavita, Fruit Culture secretary in Rao Negro, affirmed that the situation is "critical" and added that it is complicated with a deficit for the sector of around the US$80 millions. "We made solutions to approach the Government, from who we expect an answer", said Colavita.
DATA
25% - Is the average rise of costs in the fruit production in R?? ao NEgro and Neuqun.
13,4% - Is the drop in the apple's exports last year, while pears dropped 12,1%.
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