Producers of fresh grapes want to promote abroad as does the Argentine wine. Most immediately seek to reduce tariffs on Latin American markets to increase export figures.
The sector of table grapes is determined that the fruit be promoted abroad as Argentine wine with a label behind which all producers are grouped. This was one of the conclusions reached during the third workshop of the Forum Expanded to develop the Strategic Plan Uva de Mesa, who days ago was held in San Juan. Table grapes today has a small market share, at least in Mendoza. In San Juan cultivation is widespread, reaching about 8,000 acres, with 1,000 of Mendoza. The contribution made by the sector today to Coviar is also small compared to the wine as table grapes provides about 200 million kilos. President Coviar, the engineer José Molina, said that based on the findings of the Strategic Plan will now begin to work execution units, and as was done with wine, will focus on Latin America in existing trade agreements. In fresh grapes Mexico pays a high 45% tariff, and Mexico is a country that imports 80 million kilos of grapes. With the United States we have the problem of the Mediterranean fruit fly, that Chile is very strong, so we try to further develop markets in Europe, Russia and Middle East. In all have high tariffs, not the level of Mexico, but we all have problems to enter. Molina specified that what you want is to give producers options, we need more energy, refrigerators, work in a fruit basket to the other sections of the country, and that more investment by the private sector, summarized.
Grape made in Argentina Producers enfervorizaron when it comes to talking Grape Argentina brand as one of the seven strategic actions that landed the people of table grapes from all over the country, which was represented at this third meeting came to was developed in San Juan. The idea of Argentina Grape brand to promote this product alone, over other fruits produced in the country, and the same style of Vino Argentino, fell well between people in the sector. In order to improve sales in foreign markets, producers want Coviar support them to do something similar to what was done with wine, c hen winemakers agreed to promote it as a single product rather than each one get by selling it privately. The engineer Molina recalled that when the 2020 Strategic Plan was developed, when the territorial validation of different wine oasis it was decided to incorporate the raisins and table grapes. In one of the objectives which speaks of technological innovation, sustainability and the vertical integration of small and medium producers, diversification we aim firstly to table grapes and grape juice. San Juan has 8,000 hectares of table grapes and Mendoza is reaching 1,000 hectares. From there the three workshops were held, was evaluated in what situation was Argentina, Argentina want the grape is known for its consistency and naturalness, because we use few chemicals. Molina said that while still working on the findings, goes to work in the curricula of technical schools to improve agro educated middle managers of the farms. The other idea is to work on the phytosanitary status, promotion of table grapes in foreign markets as Argentina Grape, and try to double its turnover. What to improve half of fresh grapes consumed in the domestic market and 50% is exported, in the domestic market have not reached the ceiling clarifies Molina – We have to improve. Supply chain, cold, packaging and handling are the main points. The training should be not only the staff, but to the market.
Molina admits that this year’s table grape was very expensive. Not all producers made the proper management, many grapes were lost, although we have the final numbers. Last year 62 million kilos were exported, I think this year will be more or less the same values. On the price he stressed that the table grape has a very important added value, requires a lot of manpower, refrigerator trucks and thermo – chilled to move it, the producer would have been paying $ 0.80 1, the kilogram, and placing on the market is costs $ 2.50. As for culture, noting that it is growing very slowly, because in Mendoza cultivate this fruit has very high operating costs (in particular the hail mesh). Another reason to have stopped the growth of the crop of fresh grapes and the production of raisins, is the strong pull that generates the wort. Formerly grapes for raisin and fresh funding allowed wine grape harvest, because the values of the former generally have been linked to the dollar. Exporting to generate a significant amount of grapes, guaranteed price well in advance. That great certainty drove diversification, so did the grape seed passes. This changed. Today we face a situation where the same thing happens, but it has a sustained demand for grape must, are beginning to be agreements with industry where paid faster kilo of grapes for wine, and there stops diversification said Molina. the meeting
Under the Strategic Plan Wine Argentina 2020, Argentina Wine Corporation, held in San Juan on April 10, the Forum Expanded Third Workshop to develop the Strategic Plan Uva de Mesa. In the Experimental Station of INTA San Juan, the proposed Strategic Plan developed by the Reduced Forum based on workshops and made showed, for validation. The members of the Unit Situation and Prospects of INTA, presented the current situation and main trends in international food market. They also participated in the Argentina Wine Corporation, the Chamber of Viticulture Producers, Expofrut SA, Patagonian Fruits Trade SA, Cooperativa Quebrada de Zonda, Chamber of Exporters of Fruits and Vegetables, San Juan, INV, Conosur SA and INTA constituting Reduced analyzed Forum presented by the Forum Expanded and crew.
Source: Gabriela Malizia. This article was published in the Supplement Farms, Journal Los Andes.
