Argentina's blueberry industry sent its first air freight shipment of blueberries yesterday with cargo at full capacity, in a direct flight from the province of Tucumán to Miami in the United States.

Tucumán Association of Blueberry Producers (APRATUC) manager Guillermo Olivera told www.freshfruitportal.com a total of 55.6 metric tons (MT) were sent in the flight that was expected to take eight hours, allowing growers in the province and nearby Salta to have the quality of their fruit preserved and arriving very fresh for U.S. consumers.

"The majority of the fruit was bound for Miami and a lower quantity will be transferred in Miami so that it arrives in London," Olivera said.

"These logistics position Tucumán as a supplier of blueberries to the world as connections can be made to different airports around the world from Miami."

The pallets were loaded in one hour and 15 minutes and the forwarder was Newport Cargo.

www.freshfruitportal.com