Argentina Expects 160,000 MT Peach Crop

WASHINGTON - Oct 11/06 - SNS -- Peach production in Argentina is expected to end up around 160,000 metric tons (MT) in 2007, with half processed by canners, according to a recent report from the U.S. agricultural attache for the country.

Canned peaches are mainly produced in Mendoza Province, located alongside the Andes mountains. According to up-to-date official numbers, 7,600 hectares are currently planted with cling peaches in this province. Based on data from the latest census carried out by the Mendoza Provincial Government, there are 1360 farmers, with an average farm size of 5.6 hectares.

Since Mendoza is a very dry province with an annual average rainfall of 8 inches or less, all plantations are irrigated. The main source of water is snowmelt from the Andes. There are three main production zones in the province of Mendoza, called oases.

The oldest and most traditional production zone, the southern zone, encompasses the departments (counties) of San Rafael and General Alvear. It has a total planted area of 3,163 hectares, 41% of the total planted area in the Mendoza Province. Farms in this area are small, not over three hectares, and are generally subsistence in nature. Production is characteristically low tech with yields no higher than nine MT per hectare.

Subscribers can read the full text of the article by Clicking here