Argentina: Second largest area dedicated to organic production

After Australia, Argentina has the second largest area under organic production. Australia has 12 million hectares, Argentina 4 million and with significantly lower areas, follow China, the United States and Brazil (each with 1.8 million hectares).

In the Argentine organic world, fruit (fresh + products) is particularly important. Of the total organic foreign sales fresh fruits take 36% and sub-products 8%. Within this last group juices, purees, alcoholic beverages and dehydrated products are included.

Within organic fruits the main ones are apples and pears. 95% of exported fresh fruit correspond to them. In the case of pears there are more than 20,000 tons and for apples more than 15,000 tons. The volumes of other fruits are low. The export of plums reach 1,000 tons. The other fruit less than 500 tons (grapes, blueberries, peaches, etc).

Argentina can not export fresh organic citrus. Phytosanitary requirements imposed by the Europeans and other countries in the mid-2000, do not allow organic crops.

The export of fresh organic fruit was successful in recent years. In 10 years it went from the 7,000 tons sent abroad in 2000 to 40,000 tons in 2010. The highest growth was recorded for pears, whose export increased tenfold. The export of organic apples grew stronger, though not as sharply as the pear.

Industrial fruit products

To analyze the organic fruit business, we can not only take into account fresh fruit, but also industrial products. These represent an interesting option, with a plus in industrial organic fruit prices, better than the plus in organic fresh fruit prices.

While most of fresh fruit is shipped to Europe, this does not occur in the juices. In this case the main destination is the United States, followed by the European Union and Japan.

Apples and Pears:

It mainly produces organic juices and purees. Although there are interesting possibilities for dehydrated children's products such as (apple chips), the production of cider (apples) or spirits (pears).

As discussed in the last Latin American Juice Congress (Santiago, 2011) in South America there is a great availability of organic juice. But this is not a problem, thanks to the active interest that exists for this product.

The situation for pears is different. There is a wide range of juices and purees, but interest is low. Responsible for much of this is Turkey, which seriously affected the business by selling adulterated organic pear juice.

Grapes:

In grapes industrial producers are often the most important. Fresh organic grape production is extremely complicated, that is why it virtually stopped. But the production of wine and raisins has very good future. Argentina produces a large volume of organic juice which has very good demand. Grape juice is the largest exported organic juice, participating in one third of the Exports of organic juices.

Citrus:

Argentina can not export fresh organic citrus due to health limitations. The only alternative is production of juices and oils. But Argentina's production is reduced, although in the case of sweet citrus there is a high demand. There is also good demand for organic juice and lemon oil. Only in case of Grapefruit interest is limited.

Stone fruit:

Argentina's production of organic stone fruit puree is reduced, although there is some interest in these products.

Berries:

The main South American producer of organic juices and purees is Chile. Argentina has a secondary role. Chile has a good production for berry(strawberries, raspberries, blueberries) sub organic products, which have an active interest. In the case of strawberries the demand often exceeds supply.