Recently there was a wave of reports of frost damaging lemon production in Argentina. However, far from being limited to one product the damage was quite extensive and has had an effect on the country's citrus production for the year generally. Juan Martin Gonzalez Pita, of Salix Fruits, says that the country's mandarin yield is looking at a significant reduction this year.
"It's all down to the frost," he says. "The volumes this year will be around 60% down.
"The damage is so pronounced because so many important producing regions were affected, including Missiones, Corrientes, Entre Rios and Buenos Aires."
As may be expected in the circumstances, such a drop is taking its toll on the prices, as Juan explains, "The prices this year should be up around 25% on last year's asking."
Juan says that the remaining fruit is of mixed quality. To some extent there is frost damage to the fruit that survived, but there is also good quality fruit.
There are hopes that growers will receive some support to help them through this difficult time, but this has not been confirmed at this stage.
For more information:
Juan Martin Gonzalez Pita
Salix Fruits
Tel. +54 11 3221 3649
Fax +54 11 4032 0435
www.salixfruits.com