The high quality of Argentine blueberries this season has not been accompanied by good prices in international markets, defying the expectations of Tucumán growers who were expecting to obtain moderate profits.

Inés Pélaez, head of the Argentinian Blueberry Committee, said that this year, the quality of the fruit has been very good and “very healthy,” adding that during the harvest period in Tucumán, it rained for four days and in Concordia, it rained for three days. At the same time, production areas registered a good climate with a change in temperatures that was less abrupt than in past years.

One of the principal causes of the fall in price was that the high volume sent at the end of October was not accompanied by promotions in supermarkets.

In week 42, Argentina sent 855 metric tons to the United States, compared with 594 MT in 2009, according to Argentinian Blueberry Committee figures.

In week 44, Argentina shipped a total of 1,900 MT versus 1,530 MT in the same period in 2009. Of these, most were concentrated in the U.S., which got 1,476 MT compared with 1,110 MT in 2009. The European Union received 365 MT in 2010, compared with 398 MT last year. Asia received 62 MT in week 44, compared with 19 MT in 2009.

Photo: www.inta.gov.ar

Source: www.freshfruitportal.com