Argentina is in the top 10 of largest blueberry producing nations in the world. Recently, the country achieved a significant milestone as blueberries have been removed from the U.S. Department of Labor's "List of Goods Produced by Child or Forced Labor" (TVPRA list). "This achievement highlights Argentina's leadership in responsible agricultural practices in Latin America," says Cecilia Rasgido, Blueberry Quality Officer at Citromax. "As a vertically integrated blueberry company, we actively contribute to industry standards through our commitment to socially responsible practices."
In 2021, Citromax implemented a Social Compliance System (SCS) specifically for blueberry harvesting, fostering safe and ethical working environments while supporting children's education. This initiative, developed in partnership with the Responsible Agricultural Production Project (PAR) and Desarrollo y Autogestión (DyA), reinforces Citromax's commitment to responsible labor practices. "In 2024, we became the first in the industry to extend these standards to lemon harvesting, setting a new benchmark for ethical practices across our operations," adds Myriam Ortiz, Management Systems Assistant at Citromax. "We are committed to ensuring children are in school, not in the fields."
Industry collaboration
Citromax's role is part of a broader collaboration with local and provincial governments, other blueberry producers, and worker organizations. This collective effort underlines a social compliance model that emphasizes prevention, continuous monitoring, and rapid response to uphold labor standards, with regular external audits for assurance.
As a result, Argentine fresh blueberries now enter global markets, especially North America and Europe, with an enhanced social credibility free from associations with child labor. "The removal from the TVPRA List marks a crucial step forward for Argentina's fresh produce industry and underscores Citromax's commitment to building a child labor-free supply chain." As Argentina continues to enhance its reputation for responsible and ethical agricultural practices, Citromax remains dedicated to fostering positive social change and setting benchmarks for sustainable, fair agriculture.
Citromax's blueberry season
This year, Citromax has a very strong blueberry season, reaching a record production volume of nearly 1,800 tons. On one hand, approximately 450 tons were allocated for fresh markets, taking advantage of a favorable window in September and October for the U.S. and Europe. Fresh blueberry shipments were made by air, with 30 percent going to Europe and 70 percent to the United States. On the other hand, 1,300 tons were allocated to frozen blueberries (IQF), with 25 percent destined for the local market and 75 percent for export, primarily to the U.S. "We're wrapping up the season in December, which allows us to begin the necessary fieldwork for the next season," said Bernabé Padilla, Fresh Fruit Commercial Officer at Citromax Group.
For more information:
Estefania Scuka
Citromax
[email protected]
www.citromax.com