Authorities of the Argentinian Mesopotamia Cranberry Producers Association (APAMA) received, in Concordia, a delegation of technicians from the National Service of Sanitation and Agricultural Food Quality (SENASA) to advance in the implementation of phytosanitary strategies to consolidate the area as the Concordia - Salto Productive Oasis.
The productive oases are areas with special conditions generated by natural barriers or by well established management measures. Some of the area's strengths are: its sandy texture, the soil's depth, abundance and the unbeatable quality of its water resources, which together with the amount of sunlight it receives, generate the optimum conditions for the manifestation of the genetic potential of the varieties grown in the area, thus generating a unique flavor in the fruit. These conditions allow concentrating the production between the months of September and November, which is the optimum commercial window for the fruit of the southern hemisphere.
In the region of Salto Grande, the entity that nucleates producers seeks to enhance this differential by installing areas of own brand blueberries.
A first step in this direction was the work day in which SENASA specialized technicians, both from Concordia and the headquarters in Buenos Aires, and APAMA's authorities and technicians, exchanged perspectives and the need to consolidate the local production's added value.
"Concordia and the region have unique opportunities in terms of soil and climate. The varieties that we produce here and the flavors of our fruits have the biggest demand in the world, which is why we strive to achieve an excellent production quality that can be endorsed by national and international control agencies," stated the President of APAMA, Alejandro Pannunzio.
The recognition of the area as a productive oasis would mean that the area would have the technical supervision of SENASA to corroborate its phytosanitary status, and to ratify that the permanent controls made by producers and advisors are correct.
"This project would set us on the path to become a star player in the world markets, which year by year have new competitors. We are able to compete for the best shelves of large consumers, like the United States, Canada, and Europe, and compete internationally with a product that we know is coveted for its flavor and quality," Pannunzio said. "We are working to cover all fronts and to exploit our production to the maximum, to grow as producers, but also as a central actor in the regional economies," said the official.
The Treasurers of APAMA, Gabriel Wasserman, Roberto Varela, and the professional advisors Sebastian Arístide, Gonzalo Carlazara, and Vanina Almiron also participated in the working day. Representing SENASA Buenos Aires were Paola Fedyszak and Esteban Garavelli, and representing Concordia's headquarters were Roberto Gimenez, Raul Chobeta, and Carlos Morilla.
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APAMA