Argentina's Avocado Producers Association warned that the entry of avocados from different countries into the Argentine market could create unfair competition for farmers in Tucumán and the rest of the region, as well as health risks. The Association asked the national government to restrict the entry of avocados from Peru to defend the Argentine agricultural sector, in particular the developed areas in the north.
In a note submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture, the Association noted that if the Peruvian avocado entered the market, it would devastate the avocado production in Tucuman. Tucuman is the country's leading producer and Hass avocados are the most consumed. It is also the only province where the avocado is industrialized to make high quality edible oil, according to the Tucuman's Government. There were 1,000 hectares planted in the 2012-2013 season, and production amounted to 6,000 tons.
According to the Association, Argentina imported avocados from Chile many years ago and the local activity wasn't hurt. "We have never raised any objections to such importation. We must recognize that the Chileans are very professional and when they entered our market they made promotional and marketing campaigns designed to increase consumption of avocados, "said the Association. "Many of these actions were carried out jointly with Argentine producers. Chileans provided generic knowledge they brought from other world markets and Argentine producers provided the detailed knowledge of our markets," they added.
The Association reported that the country's consumption is covered from April to August by the domestic production, and from September to April by the Chilean product.
"The Peruvian production is harvested in the same months as Argentina's production. The Government of Peru openly supports local production and the Peruvian producer receives state aid via loans at subsidized rates to produce and export," they said, adding that Peru's avocado production also "has a strong participation of foreign capital."
Source: Lagaceta.com.ar