Argentina

Kissabel apples progressing into Southern Hemisphere

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 13:01:18 GMT

Kissabel says it is expanding its range of apples with flesh that varies from pink to intense red into the Southern Hemisphere. Development continues in Australia, Argentina, Chile, New Zealand and South Africa thanks to IFORED program partners in these countries, according to the company.

“Kissabel is fortunate to be able to count on high-calibre international partners,” Emmanuel de Lapparent, head of the IFORED program, said in a news release. “Producers in the Southern Hemisphere are focused on testing the different varieties in their respective climates and markets. In terms of increasing the availability of our range on the global market, we are definitely heading in the right direction.”

Australia is at the most advanced stage of development, according to the company. The growers of Montague Farms in Australia have begun the harvest, which will involve yellow skin and pink flesh varieties, and varieties with both red skin and flesh.

Though marketing is still at the early stages in terms of volumes, Montague Farms is investing in the growth of the brand, according to the release. Kissabel made an appearance on “Sunrise,” one of Australia’s most popular morning television shows. It was also a hit at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, according to the company, which added that the apple was sampled to over 50,000 people and that TV presenter and author Alice Zaslavsky hosted a sold-out Kissabel cooking demonstration at the show.

Kissabel said it plans for future sampling events involving influencers and food outlets.

“The goal is to construct a strong brand, so we are ready to increase volumes in the next few years,” said Michelle Hau, marketing manager of Montague Farms. “We are particularly interested in young foodies, the perfect target audience for an innovation product like Kissabel.”

Kissabel is also making progress in South America thanks to the work of partners Moño Azul in Argentina and Unifrutti in Chile, the company said.

“The main objective this season is to confirm which varieties adapt best to our land so we can open new commercial plantations,” said Marcelo Galardini, sales director of Moño Azul. “In the meantime, we will begin promoting Kissabel apples on the local market to raise their profile among our customers.”

Argentinean production is mainly focused on the varieties with red flesh and skin. This is also the main variety in Chile, where different cultivars are currently being tested, according to the release.

“This season we will send product samples to one of our customers in Brazil with the aim of expanding commercial production,” said Cristian Matte, commercial manager of Unifrutti Chile.

Dutoit Group of South Africa began planting its first semi-commercial orchards in 2023, focusing on red skin and red flesh varieties and achieved this year its first harvest of Kissabel apples.

“We are very excited about the quality of the harvest: the apples developed an intense and vibrant red color, especially in warmer regions. A pleasant surprise was the change in texture when apples reached maturity, also allowing the flavor to fully develop. This result was met with great enthusiasm by both our marketing team and local retailers,” said Willie Cotze, technical manager at Dutoit.

“We will be introducing Kissabel apples to a group of local media, influencers and retail customers to test the visual and tasting experience of this unique product,” he added.

The testing phase is also currently underway in New Zealand with the partner Yummy Fruit, according to the release.

Generation Farms adds garlic to offerings

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:36:53 GMT

Generation Farms , Vidalia, Ga., is adding white and purple garlic to its line of fruits and vegetables.

The garlic is available in net bags, either three or five bulbs per bag with wineglass labels, and in 30-pound bulk cartons. Custom packaging for retailers is also available, according to a news release.

“The current supply is beautiful, with firm heads, and ready for immediate sale and consumption,” Brian Stanley, director of sales, said in a news release.
“We’re sourcing from exclusive grower relationships in Spain, Argentina, Peru and Mexico to ensure a steady, year-round supply of white and purple premium garlic,” he said.

Containers will be arriving at East Coast ports.

The less common purple garlic, which has a stronger scent and taste, is popular with gourmet chefs and food aficionados, according to the release.
Generation Farms grows and markets Vidalia onions , watermelons, squash and other fruits and vegetables.

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Tons of carrots and lemons, checklists and virtual events

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:06:45 GMT

Bolthouse Farms continues its donation program, Argentine lemon importer Salix Fruits reports high demand and New York agencies releases guidelines in this latest roundup of COVID-19-related news.

Bolthouse Farms

Bolthouse Farms , Bakersfield, Calif., has continued its donation program throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, with truckloads of carrots , juices and other products going to organization in California and other states.

“Our long-term commitment to food banks became even more important during the pandemic and guided our giving efforts toward these organizations in our local communities and across North America to deliver healthy, fresh food to those in need during these challenging times,” President Bill Levisay said in a news release.

The company has donated more than 2.5 million pounds of carrots and nearly 200,000 cases of juices, smoothies, protein shakes and dressings.

Employee programs have also generated more than $60,000 in donations to Feeding America, which tripled in size with matching donations from the company as well as Bolthouse CEO Jeff Dunn, according to the release.

“We’re thankful to have a mission-driven company like Bolthouse Farms located in our area,” Maureen Andrew, food solicitor for the Community Action Partnership of Kern Food Bank, said in the release. “They are an extremely important donor in our community and their support and generous donations have made a meaningful impact on our community – our clients having access to healthy foods is critical in times of need.”

Empire State Producers Expo

The New York State Vegetable Growers Association and Cornell Cooperative Extension decided to transform the annual Becker Forum and Empire State Producers Expo into a virtual conference Jan. 11-14.

The association plans to continue its commitment to educate growers, despite the COVID-19 pandemic changing the landscape of networking and in-person educational events, according to a news release.

“We are looking forward to bringing in new and exciting speakers who have not been available to us in the past,” according to the release.

The conference will be available online to those who register. State Department of Environmental Conservation credits will be available.

A full session list will be able this fall, and registration will open in November, according to the release. In the meantime, conference updates will be posted on the association website at www.nysvga.org .

Contact the association for questions at 585-993-0775 or NYSVegetableGrowers@gmail.com.

FDA/OSHA

Federal agencies have teamed up to publish a checklist to help the food adjust to changes to ensure supply chain continuity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Food and Drug Administration and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have developed resources to help food industry employers continue or resume operations, according to a news release.

The FDA and OSHA developed the “ Employee Health and Food Safety Checklist for Human and Animal Food Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemic .”

The checklist covers two areas: employee health, screening and how to social distance to minimize the spread of COVID-19, and food safety requirements with information on closures, changes among food safety staff and changes in suppliers.

“Some or all of this checklist may be useful to establishments that are growing, harvesting, packing, manufacturing, processing, or holding human and animal food regulated by FDA,” including produce, according to the release. “This checklist also provides useful information for foreign facilities that manufacture, process, pack, or hold food intended for consumption in the United States.”

NY State agencies

The New York State departments of agriculture and markets , health and labor are encouraging farmers to register for the COVID-19 testing initiative for seasonal workers.

The state is making available free, on-farm voluntary COVID-19 testing to agricultural workers in Wayne, Orleans, Genesee, Ulster and Clinton counties, which see the highest number of out-of-state workers during harvest season, according to a news release.

“As we have seen an increase in clusters associated with farms that employ seasonal workers who have traveled from out of state, this testing initiative will help us isolate any individuals who test positive and prevent the virus from spreading,” state Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said in the release.

Participating farms must:

Comply with state guidelines ;
Plan for housing to isolate workers who test positive and quarantine workers identified as contacts to a case;
Plan how to supplement the current workforce, if necessary; and
Pre-registration for the program is online .

“Providing education and bringing testing directly to our communities will ensure we are reaching the seasonal workers on our farms for this upcoming harvest,” state Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball said in the release.

Answers to frequently asked questions are in English and in Spanish . A flyer being distributed in the counties is available in English and in Spanish .

The prevention and testing initiative also includes partnering with county health departments, community health care providers, county Cornell Cooperative Extensions and the New York Farm Bureau.

Farmers will continue to work with local health departments to address screening, isolation and quarantine status, and housing needs of their workers.
As essential workers, farmworkers are allowed to continue working while quarantined, as long as certain conditions are met, according to the release.

Salix Fruits

Salix Fruits, Atlanta, saw imports of Argentine lemons into the U.S. and other countries remain strong, as COVID-19 pushed citrus demand up for all varieties.

The U.S. imported 21.89 tons of lemons, more than 1.2 million boxes, according to Salix Fruits.

“The inconveniences and delays caused by the mandatory quarantine due to the coronavirus brought delays in the end of March shipments, but Argentina was able to start its shipments to Russia, Ukraine and Canada without problems, in April for the U.S., and in early May for Europe,” Juana Elortondo, sales manager, said in a news release.

The company added two executive sales professionals “to be closer to customers in the U.S.,” and expanded the supermarket database in the U.S., Flortondo said in the release.

According to the release, the outlook is positive, despite the “social, preventive and compulsory isolation provided by the Argentine government to fight the pandemic, commercial activity did no suffer great consequences.”

Salix Fruits launched an app allowing customers to download information on the company’s fruit and prices.

“Currently it works as an excellent e-commerce tool, especially to have all the documentation of the operation and to know the status of the order online, and in the future they hope that this tool will evolve into a true marketplace where producers come together and customers without any pandemic limiting business,” according to the release.

For more news related to the pandemic, see The Packer’s COVID-19 news updates.

Northeast Editor Amy Sowder contributed to this article.

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Awe Sum Organic’s Southern Hemisphere apple imports near

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 02:13:00 GMT

Awe Sum Organics , Santa Cruz, Calif., is starting its new crop of Southern Hemisphere apples .

The company’s Southern Hemisphere apples area available June through August, according to a news release. Most shipments will. Be arriving at the Port of Philadelphia. The company emphasizes a lower carbon footprint shipping via ocean freight versus transporting from the West Coast to the East Coast by truck, according to a news release.

Awe Sum Organics also promotes the freshness of imported crops in the summer, which haven’t been stored.

“Our customers could benefit from increased sales and customer satisfaction by offering our organic apples until the next domestic harvest arrives,” according to the release.

The company imports apples from New Zealand, Chile and Argentina. Its Southern Hemisphere program varieties, royal galas, granny smiths, fujis and Cripps pinks are available in bulk, and in 3-pound cello bags, 12 to a case, or 2-pound pouch bags, 12 to a case, according to the release.

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Salix Fruits look for growth in Argentina lemon program

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 02:13:55 GMT

Atlanta, Ga.-based Salix Fruits is concluding its second season of importing Argentina lemons to the U.S., with bigger volume expected in future years.

Salix is able to offer the U.S. market an extended supply of lemons by complementing its Argentine volume with imports from Mexico, Turkey and Spain, according to a news release.

“The quality of the fruit (from Argentina) was excellent, and we received great feedback from our customers who perceive us as a lemon specialist and no more so, of course, than when it comes to Argentina,” Juana Elortondo, sales manager for Salix, said in the release. The company has offices in Atlanta, Philadelphia and Chicago.

After the import season from Argentina ended in late August, Salix carries Mexican lemon imports, followed by fruit from Turkey. Spanish lemons will be imported through the winter months and will satisfy demand until the 2020 Argentina lemon crop begins next spring, according to the release.

From mid-2018 to mid-2019, Salix expects close to a 30% increase in global sales.
Responding to high demand for e-commerce transactions, Salix is in the midst of developing its own online marketing channel, according to the release.

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LGS Specialty Sales launches Dish to Discovery

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 02:13:46 GMT

Fruit importer LGS Specialty Sales , New Rochelle, N.Y., is promoting growing regions around the globe with the Dish to Discovery program.

From Sept. 30-Nov. 6, the company’s Darling Citrus brand will be featured each week in a consumer contest.

Darling Citrus e-mail subscribers will be introduced to different growing regions, highlighting dishes each week from the region, according to a news release. Winners will receive a 12-month travel/exploration themed subscription box with recipes, spices and food from various cultures.

“We are so proud of the long-standing relationships we’ve built with our growers in Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Morocco, Peru and Spain,” Luke Sears, president and founder of LGS Specialty Sales, said in the release. “Dish to Discovery is a great way for us to educate our customers and consumers about where their citrus is grown. We are excited to share more about the regions and cultures we work so closely with.”

Through the fall promotion, clementines will be sourced from Chile, transitioning to Spain and Morocco when the Northern Hemisphere season starts. Mexico and Chile will be shipping Darling Lemons , according to the news release.

The company also imports grapes and avocados.

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Chris Ford joins Viva Tierra Organic

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:25:34 GMT

Chris Ford is the new business development and marketing manager at Viva Tierra Organic in Mount Vernon, Wash., in the Skagit Valley.

Ford is a longtime member of the industry, working as produce manager for Alfalfa’s Markets in Boulder, Colo., for 2 ½ year, starting in 1997. He then became regional produce buyer and coordinator at Wild Oats Markets, followed by more than six years at Earthbound Farm as commodity manager.

He returned to retail for 7 ½ years, working at Whole Foods Markets, as global and floral purchasing team leader. He was vice president of sales at Sutherland Produce Sales until 2017, when left for the Oppenheimer Group, where he was organic and foodservice category manager.
Viva Tierra CEO Luis Acuna, who has known Ford throughout his career, said Ford is a “champion for organic integrity and social responsibility.”

“We are thrilled to have him on our team,” Acuna said in the release. “His deep experience and strategic perspective will be of tremendous value as we continue to build the business to meet the needs of our customers.”

Viva Tierra Organic has year-round programs for apples, pears, with fruit from Argentina and Chile, where the company has a farm and cold storage facility. Seasonal items include onions, kiwifruit and stone fruit, according to the release.

The new Bartlett pear crop from Argentina will be arriving and hitting U.S. stores the week of Feb. 17, according to the news release, with ideal weather in the growing season.

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Latin America to see continued fresh produce growth

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:42:35 GMT

More growth opportunities are dead ahead for Latin American fruit and vegetable growers, according to a new 3 26-page report from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization.

The report, giving the outlook for 2019-2028, said there are “strong growth opportunities” in the Latin America region to produce high-value fruits and vegetables. That trend, according to the report, will help provide better opportunities for small land holders.

Since 2000, the report said fruits and vegetables gained considerable importance in Central America, Mexico and Chile.

Research by INIA, Chile’s chief agricultural research institution, has contributed to a 1,000% increase in nut exports from 2001-2011 and a big increase in blueberry output. “From being practically an unknown fruit to farmers only two decades ago, today Chile is an important blueberry producer and exporter in the Southern hemisphere,” the report said.

U.S. trade statistics show that Chilean berry exports to the U.S. (excluding strawberries) rose from about $19 million in 2000 to $465 million in 2018.

Future growth

The report said Latin American and Caribbean production of fruits and vegetables have grown considerably in the last few decades, with most volume of exports bound for the U.S. and Canada. Free trade agreements have spurred that growth, according to the report.

In addition to the North American Free Trade Agreement, the U.S. has the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua) and separate trade agreements with Chile, Colombia, Panama and Peru.

While Mexico has traditionally been the main fruit and vegetable supplier to the U.S., the report said Central American countries and Chile have played an increasingly important roles in the U.S winter fruit and vegetable market.

For example, USDA trade statistics show that U.S. imports of fresh fruits and vegetables from Central America more than tripled from 2000 to 2018, rising from $920 million in 2000 to $2.94 billion in 2018.

Likewise, U.S. imports of fresh fruits and vegetables from South America more than tripled from $1.27 billion in 2000 to $4.37 billion in 2018.

U.S. imports of fresh fruits and vegetables from Mexico from 2000-2018 grew at an even faster clip, rising from $2.04 billion in 2000 to $12.1 billion in 2018.

In 2017, Mexico, Peru, Guatemala and Costa Rica accounted for 75.4% of U.S. total fresh vegetable imports, according to the report.

For fresh fruits, the report said nine Latin American countries represented 92.3% of total U.S imports, led by Mexico, Chile, Guatemala and Costa Rica.

Over the past two decades, harvested area of fruits and vegetables in Mexico increased 26.2% to 4.6 million acres. That compares with increases of 42.2% in Chile and 45.8% in Central America.

“The region’s traditional fruit and vegetable production and exports (Mexican tomatoes and avocados, Chilean grapes and peaches, Central American bananas and pineapples, for example) have risen considerably and have expanded to include, for example, Chilean cherries and cranberries; Central American chillies and peppers, and eggplant; and Mexican blueberries and raspberries,” the report said.

Reflecting favorable weather and labor conditions, Latin American and Caribbean countries may continue to enjoy a comparative advantage in fruit and vegetable production in the future, according to the report. That could be further strengthened by improving storage technology, infrastructure and production practices, according to the report.

Looking ahead, the report said that global population growth and improvements in per capita incomes will help fuel a 1.4% annual growth rate for bananas and tropical fruit in Latin America and the Caribbean over the next ten years. Bananas will account for about half of tropical fruit output, according to the report. Exports will grow at an even faster rate.

“Preference changes towards higher consumption of tropical fruits in developed regions, particularly in the case of avocado, should meanwhile stimulate a further expansion in trade,” the report said. The report said banana and tropical fruit exports from Latin American and the Caribbean are projected to grow at 1.7% annually between 2019 and 2028.

“Latin America/the Caribbean will continue to be the main source of global supplies in bananas and tropical fruits, with its share in global trade projected to remain close to 80% by 2028,” the report said.

Estimates for Argentina apple output revised lower

Mon, 24 May 2021 12:44:28 GMT

Compared with earlier estimates, Argentina’s fresh apple production in the 2020-2021 season is expected to decrease 10,000 metric tons to 560,000 metric tons, according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service.

Especially for apples, planted area has been on a downward trend, according to the report.

“In recent years, producers have abandoned or repurposed over 40% of orchards,” the report said, with some growers transforming orchards into higher-returning vineyards while other areas are turning to substitutes such as alfalfa and corn.

In Rio Negro and Neuquen Provinces, the USDA said agricultural land is being repurposed into urban development uses. The oil and gas industry has also leased land formerly in fruit production for exploration and extraction purposes, the USDA said.

The report also said that Argentina fresh pear production will rise from 10,000 metric tons to 620,000 metric tons from an earlier USDA estimate.

Tough times

A decade of rising production costs and low profits has “eroded the financial sustainability” of fresh deciduous fruit producers despite currency devaluations that improved the competitiveness of local exports in international markets, according to the report.

The departure of some key international fruit companies, the report said, has increased the sector consolidation.

“The remaining operations are surviving tough conditions through greater cost sharing and marketing outreach but struggle to attract needed investment,” the report said.

For the 2020-21 marketing year season, the USDA said Argentina’s fresh exports are forecast to decrease to 100,000 metric tons for apples and remain unchanged at 320,000 metric tons for pears due to larger fruit supply in the northern-hemisphere countries.

Production

Apple and pear production is concentrated (85%) in Patagonia’s Alto Valley in Rio Negro Province with some production also in Neuquen (12%) Province, the report said.

The remaining 3% is located in the Uco Valley in Mendoza Province.

Grower numbers have fallen from about 9,000 in 2005 to less than 2,000 today. Currently, the sector has 270 packing houses, 260 cold storage facilities and 50,000 direct-hire employees, the report said.

“Production issues continue to threaten the long-term viability of the industry,” the report said. “Many factors, such as the devaluation of the Argentine peso and rising input costs for labor and energy, provide significant challenges to producer profitability.”

Limited access to capital for reinvestment in orchard health and efficiency practices, the report said, further limits potential productivity gains.

In marketing year 2018-19, for example, the report said producers failed to prune between 30% to 40% of apple and pear orchards (estimated cost of pruning is $750 per hectare), and/or treat with basic pest controls during the 2019-20 marketing season.

The production cost for a kilogram of apples or pears was estimated at $0.26 by the “Fruit Contractualization Table” (Mesa de Contractualizacion Fruticola) with 60% of the cost attributable to labor (40% packing and 20% production) and 40% to capital, inputs and service costs (energy, fertilizers, transportation, packaging, customs fees, phytosanitary and quality certifications, etc.)

The 2019-20 marketing year harvest was not interrupted by COVID-19 restrictions, as fruit harvest was declared an excepted activity from the mandatory quarantine, the report said.

Industry sources reported no major delays or COVID-19 related logistical problems at destination ports for the 2019-20 marketing year, and COVID protocols are being met without major disruptions in the 2020-21 season.

Organic production

In the 2019-20 season, about 9.3% of fruit acres planted to apples and pears in the Provinces of Rio Negro and Neuquen were certified organic, the report said.

“The international demand for organic fruit products continued to grow pulled by the effects of the pandemic where consumers looked to healthier food options,” the report said.

Pacific Trellis extends cherry program with Argentine fruit

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 18:22:11 GMT

Pacific Trellis Fruit announced the first arrival of Argentine cherries, arriving via vessel to its west coast warehouse this week.

With the air-shipment based Chilean cherry season coming to a close at the end of January, Argentine cherries provide retailers a full extra month of cherry supply.

“The ability to offer our retail partners an extra month of high quality cherry supply is something we are really proud of, and it is one of the aspects of our business that helps set us apart,” said Dan Carapella, Senior Sales & Category Manager at Pacific Trellis Fruit. “When our partners commit to cherry programs with us before the season even begins, they automatically receive the added benefit of knowing that they will have supply through the end of February during a month when demand is significantly higher than what is available in the market.”

Pacific Trellis Fruit is the main importer of late season cherries, and this is their third season partnering with Extraberries SA, whose cherry production happens in one of the southernmost fields of Patagonia. “The southern region of Argentina has the ideal climate for growing cherries,” said Marcial Hernandez, Director of South American Imports at Pacific Trellis Fruit. “This results in late season cherries that are high in quality along with being sweet and delicious.

Pacific Trellis Fruit’s late season cherries are available in high graphic bags for a limited time only.

Argentina lemon output revised

Tue, 22 Jun 2021 22:35:18 GMT

Argentina’s estimated lemon output for the marketing year 2020-21 has been increased 12% by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service, but exports have been revised lower.

The USDA revised its estimate for Agentina’s fresh lemon production to 1.15 million metric tons, up 12% from prior estimates, as summer rains offset some drought impacts.

However, the country’s marketing year 2020-21 lemon exports are forecast at 180,000 metric tons, down 10,000 metrc tons from the previous estimate as a result of larger fruit supply in the Northern Hemisphere, strong competition from South Africa, and uncertainty about stringent EU sanitary measures restricting imports of fruit, according to the report.

California lemon grower raises alarm over Argentina imports

Fri, 27 Aug 2021 12:36:04 GMT

California lemon grower Jim Finch is alarmed about the surge in Argentina lemon imports this year.

Argentina lemon shipments through Aug. 21 totaled 2.72 million 40-pound cartons, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, up 62% from 1.68 million cartons a year ago.

The USDA approved imports from Argentina in 2017, and U.S. imports of Argentina lemons have risen from $1.8 million in 2017-18 to $49.8 million in 2020-21.

In an October 2016 economic analysis published before Argentina lemons won access to the U.S., the USDA estimated that U.S. imports of fresh lemon from Argentina were expected to range from 15,000 to 20,000 metric tons annually.

That missed the mark by a wide margin. Recent statistics show volume of Argentina lemons into the U.S. from July 2020 to June 2021 topped 43,000 metric tons, up from about 25,000 metric tons a year earlier.

Shipping point prices for California lemons were $36-44 per carton for 95s, up slightly from $33-40 per carton a year ago. Prices for Argentina lemon imports in Philadelphia were $16-20 per carton on Aug. 25, according to the USDA.

Argentina lemon prices were not reported at the same time last year.

Market changing

Finch, a third-generation Ventura County, Calif., lemon grower based in Ojai, Calif., said his farm typically hits it peak lemon volume in May and then tapers down with shipments from storage for several months. Finch markets his lemons through Sunkist and Wonderful, he said.

The surge in Argentina lemon imports this summer has changed the market window for Ventura lemons, Finch said. Lemons from Ventura County will typically finish by mid-September, but this year supply is expected into October, he said.

Western U.S. lemon supply rotates from the desert to the San Joaquin Valley to Ventura County on the coast, Finch said.

“How any one of us leaves the market affects next guy, which affects the next guy,” he said.

“This will definitely hand the desert growers a very different market because of the market we’re facing currently,” Finch said.

Surge consequences

Argentina’s big increase in volume is troubling, Finch said. Fluctuations in volume of 10% to 20% are not unusual among produce commodities, but he said the dramatic increase in shipments to the U.S. wrecks the market.

While Finch said growers won’t make snap decisions based on one year, current conditions will cause them to carefully consider their future.
The high cost of irrigation water, combined with escalating labor costs, make it difficult for growers.

“We will have to see what next year brings and evaluate (then),” he said.

Finch said California lemon growers could be in a much better position with “even playing fields.”
“I think we are very productive and very innovative and can compete, but when we have more and more regulations and higher costs, it gets harder and harder. A lot of our pickers were making $18-plus an hour, some as high as $25 an hour,” he said. “It gets tough when you’re up against a wage that’s $2 an hour in some of these other countries.”

Consumer preference for U.S. lemons is unclear, he said, and perhaps country-of-origin labeling is not very effective at many supermarkets.

“I’ve talked to several produce managers saying, Hey, your sign up top doesn’t match the sticker on the fruit,” he said, adding the PLU stickers on the fruit have tiny type and are hard to read.

“I can’t read the sticker; it’s too small,” he said. “I can only read what’s published or what’s printed up on the sign in the grocery store; I think a lot of people don’t know (what they are looking) at.”
While lemon acreage had been trending up in the Western U.S. in recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic was a big blow to growers. Since about 55% to 60% sell through foodservice channels, COVID-19 related restrictions on restaurants took a toll last year.

Foodservice demand has since strengthened, but Argentina imports are making life more difficult.

Level up

Finch said he would love to see “something that helps level the playing field” with imports, noting that California growers are concerned that U.S. protection measures against citrus blackspot on Argentina lemons are weaker than those in Europe.

“Europe has different requirements than we do, and that actually holds Argentina to a higher standard than what we hold them to, which bothers me,” he said. “I am very, very concerned.”

Finch said growers are used to evolving and changing, but the surge in imports from Argentina is overwhelming.

“We’ve grown different things over the years, and we have mandarins that we didn’t have at all 20 years ago, he said.

“I have no trouble with the evolution of (what is grown) as agriculture evolves, but it is tough when the playing fields are not quite even.”

Starr Ranch organic program expands with Argentine pears

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:46:05 GMT

Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers has added organic bartletts and anjous from Argentina as it moves to a year-round organic pear program.

The South American organic pears fill in at the end of the Pacific Northwest crop and start of the California season, according to a news release. The new offerings are Williams Bartletts, Autumn Bartletts and green anjous.

“It’s an exciting new part of our Star Ranch Organics program,” Dan Davis, organic category manager, said in the release. “This is the first year we’ve had these pears from Argentina, and they are the perfect fit in our plan to be year-round shipper of organic pears.”

The company, Wenatchee, Wash., has a year-round organic apple season, with domestic and imported product.

Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers imports manager Bruce Turner said although the Argentine pear crop has a small size profile this season, the company is focusing primarily on size 100 and larger.

The pears, which are distributed from Yakima, Wash., are available in two-pound consumer pouch bags and tissue-wrapped in 40-pound cartons, according to the release.

Argentina president celebrates lemon exports to U.S.

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 05:23:05 GMT

The president of Argentina on April 18 celebrated the departure of the first U.S. bound lemons in 17 years from the country’s Tucumán citrus growing region.

Argentine President Mauricio Macri, Minister of Agribusiness Luis Miguel Etchevehere and other officials were on hand to mark the occasion, according to a news release.

Argentina had sought to reestablish exports of lemons to the U.S. since 2001, when a U.S. District Court in California overturned a U.S. Department of Agriculture rule from a year earlier allowing lemon imports from Argentina.

In April last year Macri met with President Donald Trump to discuss the ban. Shortly after that meeting in May, the USDA again approved Argentina lemon imports. The decision affirmed a final rule the agency previously announced in December 2016 but then delayed by request of the White House.

The USDA’s decision last year to open the door for Argentina lemons to the U.S. was again challenged by U.S. citrus interests in court.

However, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California in February this year ruled in favor of the USDA in a lawsuit brought last May by the U.S. Citrus Science Council and five growers seeking to overturn USDA approval of Argentina lemon imports.

Government officials in Argentina expect that during the 2018 season, Argentina’s provinces of Tucumán, Salta and Jujuy will export between 15,000 and 20,000 metric tons of lemons to the U.S., according to the release. Most of Argentina’s lemon shipments are expected in June and July, according to trade sources.

Argentina’s lemon exports in 2017 totaled 241,000 metric tons, with the top destinations listed as Spain, Russia, Italy, the Netherlands, Greece and Canada, according to the release.

LGS prepares for summer citrus, avocado season

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 02:14:40 GMT

LGS Specialty Sales Ltd., New Rochelle, N.Y., is preparing to start the Peruvian avocado and summer citrus seasons by visiting growers in different countries.

LGS advisors plan to visit citrus and avocado farms in Peru, Argentina and Chile to plan for the upcoming season, according to a news release.

The company plans to increase its Peruvian avocado program to complement Mexican fruit for a steady supply in the summer.

The company also imports Peruvian and Chilean clementines , as well as lemons from Argentina and Chile, minneolas from Peru and navel oranges from Chile.

“We value our partners and the work they do to help us keep our commitment to provide fresh produce to our U.S. customers year-round,” Luke Sears, president and founder of LGS, said in the release. “Our summer citrus and Peruvian avocado programs focus on meeting the needs and demands of our customers, and our partners overseas make that possible.”

As Cinco de Mayo and Labor Day lead in to the summer season, shoppers are spending more time outside, and citrus and avocado programs are a crucial part of catering to those occasions, according to the release.

“As we continue to enhance and develop our relationships with growers in different regions, we’re able improve our availability of fruit during these months when citrus and avocados are in demand the most,” Sears said in the release.

Limoneira expands lemon capacity with Argentina agreement

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 02:14:58 GMT

Limoneira Co ., Santa Paula, Calif., has entered into an agreement with FGF Trapani, a family-owned citrus operation in Argentina, acquiring 1,200 acres of lemons up front and another 1,200 over a three-year period.

The company’s operation will be known at Limoneira Argentina S.A.U., according to a news release, which will be the managing partner of the new venture, known as Trapani Fresh. Limoneira Argentina will be responsible for all fresh fruit sales, and will have a 51% interest in the operation. The agreement is expected to close in mid-March, according to the release.

“It’s very exciting for us to expand our global footprint into Argentina and thereby strengthen our ability to become a 365-day, 24/7 global supplier of fresh citrus to our valued customers around the world,” Alex Teague, senior vice president of Limoneira Co., said in the release. “This joint venture fits in nicely with our One World of Citrus initiative and we are looking forward to welcoming FGF’s family-owned business to the Limoneira team.”

The agreement provides the company with access to new markets and distribution networks, and increases production and technical capacity, Teague said in the release.

More information on the agreement will be available during Limoneira’s first-quarter financials call in early March, Harold Edwards, president and CEO said.

“We are excited to add FGF’s rich supply of citrus to our global production and increase our competitive position,” Edwards said in the release. “Our two companies have a long history with a combined 205 years in the business and this joint venture is bringing together years of industry knowledge and expertise.”

FGF was founded in 1937, and the fourth generation of the Trapani family is involved. The company has more than 3,200 acres of lemons and oranges in the provinces of Salta, Jujuy and Tucuman. A juice processing facility in Tucuman is not part of the agreement with Limoneira Argentina, according to the release.

Argentina’s fruit exports dip as economy sags

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 05:55:10 GMT

Planting area and exports continue to fall for Argentina apple and pear producers, according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The semi-annual fresh deciduous fruit report from the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service said that although 2018-19 Argentina production levels will rise higher than initial estimates to 590,000 metric tons for apples and 600,000 metric tons for pears , output remain below historical levels as planted area continues to fall.

“Exports are forecast to fall below official estimates to 90,000 metric tons for apples and 290,000 metric tons for pears due to strong external competition and falling competitiveness in the global market,” the report said.

The report said apple and pear production is concentrated in Patagonia’s Upper Valley of the provinces of Rio Negro (85%) and Neuquen (12%)%.

“Argentina’s fruit producers continue to battle a host of production issues that threaten the long-term viability of the industry,” the report said, citing falling currency values, export tax policies and rising input costs for labor and energy.

Growers lack money to maintain their orchards, according to the report, and in 2017-18 between 30% to 40% of apple and pear orchards were not pruned.

(UPDATED) Pest not expected to derail Argentina lemon imports

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 02:15:54 GMT

(UPDATED May 11) A fruit fly find in a lemon packinghouse in Argentina won’t derail fruit that’s just started to arrive in the U.S., according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

A February court decision in favor of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2017 approval of the import of Argentine lemons set the stage for the first U.S. imports in 17 years this summer. The first container vessel with Argentina lemons arrived in New York on May 9, according to an importer.

The fruit fly larvae find happened as part of a new process etablished by USDA, Juan Manzu, governor of Argentina’s Tucumán province, told the Argentina news outlet El Cronista. He told El Cronista in a May 8 story that there has been no new prohibition against lemon shipments to the U.S. as a result of the find.

The USDA confirmed the larvae find. In a May 11 e-mail statement, William Wepsala, public affairs specialist for USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, said there have been no fruit fly detections at U.S. ports of entry to date and the pest detection in Argentina won’t change the status of the lemon imports.

The fruit fly detection came during routine packinghouse inspections, according to Wepsala. The lot was removed from the shipment and the production site it came from was suspended.

As a condition of entry to the U.S., lemons from the northwest region of Argentina must be produced with a prescribed set of measures taken by growers, packers, and shippers to reduce the risk of importing fruit flies and other pests.

Commercial shipments must also be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with a declaration from Argentina’s national plant protection organization stating that the lemons were produced in accordance with the systems approach and have been inspected and found to be free of quarantine pests, according to the USDA.

APHIS also requires that lemons from northwest Argentina to be harvested green and within a certain time period.

Season beginning

Mike Mahon, business development manager for Citromax, Carlstadt, N.J., said May 10 that the company hadn’t yet received Argentina lemon imports to the U.S. but a shipment was expected soon.

Alex Teague, senior vice president, chief operating officer for Limoneira Co ., Santa Paula, Calif., said the fruit fly larvae find was apparently detected by Argentina’s plant health officials.

“We feel comfortable that the process will catch any problems such as that,” he said. “We are continuing on as originally planned.”

In April, Limoneira announced it had joined with F.G.F. Trapani SA, Padilla Citrus SA and EarlyCrop SA to form Grupo Argentino. At the time, Limoniera said it could handle about 400,000 cartons of Argentina lemons this summer.

Teague said May 10 that Limoneira had its own suppliers’ orchards retested and found no pest concerns, he said. He said Argentina’s exporters are being careful to comply with pest safeguards.

Teague said the first vessel container with Argentina lemons landed in New York May 9 and the shipment was cleared for distribution by USDA plant health officials.

U.S. Department of Agriculture shipment statistics and terminal market price reports didn’t yet reflect lemon volume from Argentina as of May 10.

With shipments expected mostly from May through August, trade officials have estimated total Argentina lemon shipments to the U.S. could total about 20,000 metric tons, or about 1 million cartons.