Argentina's production and export of pears and apples increasingly depend on Brazil, their main commercial destination. "Today, Brazil is the main market for Argentine pears and our main market for all varieties. Brazil's constant demand and proximity have helped to position it as a key destination for Argentine fruits," stated Francisco Ayerbe, Global Fresh's sales manager.
Pear consumption has evolved in recent years, Ayerbe said. "Technological advances do not always have a positive influence on the fruit. Using 1-MCP has helped extend the fruit's shelf life, but its misuse -or abuse- has altered its flavor, reducing consumer preference.
The pear is the fruit with the highest volume in our area, so revaluing it and regaining consumer interest is of the utmost importance."
Nowadays, he adds, "the whole world is using these methods to produce seeds for their long shelf life. This has had an impact on the off-season market because Europe, for example, practically has pears throughout the whole year."
The global fruit market is becoming more competitive every year. That is why "Global Fresh SA is constantly investing in improving product quality, replacing varieties that aren't well accepted by the markets with new varieties. We are also investing in technology to improve our efficiency and competitiveness and to minimize our environmental impact. The next step will be to put mesh on the farms to protect the production from hail, among other things," Francisco added.
In 2024, prices in Europe started high due to lower supply. However, they fell towards the end of the season due to port congestion and logistics delays. "There were weeks when there was no supply so prices were very high. Then everything arrived together, and in some cases very late, which affected the pear's sales values and returns. In contrast, the US market yielded positive and stable returns. Meanwhile, the devaluation of the real, which accelerated in the second half of the year, affected consumption in Brazil at the end of last year."
Despite the economic and climatic difficulties, Global Fresh SA continues its program of constant improvement. "Developing new varieties and investing in research will allow us to remain competitive in the long term."
Argentina's pear and apple production sector faces an increasingly challenging market, marked by fluctuations in demand, international competition, and rising production costs. Adapting to new conservation technologies, efficiency throughout the value chain, and market diversification will be key to the sector's sustainability. "It's something we have to do to become stronger as a country and as a sector," Francisco Ayerbe concluded.
For more information:
Francisco Ayerbe
Global Fresh
Argentina
Tel.: +54 9 299 577 5550
Email: [email protected]
www.globalfresh.com.ar
