Processing peach volumes in the key Argentine growing province of Mendoza are set to rise by 6.5% in 2012-13, according to a report by the country's Rural Development Foundation Institute (IDR).

The "Industrial Peach Harvest Forecast" estimates 156,022 metric tons (MT) will be produced over the season.

"The industrial peach crop is of high importance for the province of Mendoza, as it concentrates all the production in Argentina," the report said.

Of the total, around 47% is grown in the Uco Valley in the south, 11% comes from the eastern zone and 5% comes from Mendoza's north.

IDR highlighted the amount of planted surface area had risen by around 10% in the past year, reaching 7,566 hectares.

The average yield per hectare in the province stands at 22MT per hectare.

The institute said the report focused on the Pavie Catherine, Dr. Davis, Loadel, Ross, Andross, Bowen and Fortuna varieties.

www.freshfruitportal.com