Rio Negro's Fruit Contract Board established the official minimum marketing price for pears and apples at 30 cents per kilo in the 2015-2016 season.
The price was defined within the framework of the Transparency Act for pear and apple operations this season. The members of the Board established the minimum price at US 30 cents or its equivalent in pesos, according to the National Bank's exchange rate on the day the fruit is paid.
The president of the Federation of Producers, Jorge Figueroa, told reporters that "the cost of production was done according to a methodology used since the Price Observatory was formed with the contribution of different institutions. We have all agreed on the price, taking into account the exchange rate differentials and cost increases."
"Now, producers must make use of this instrument and businesses will have to adapt, otherwise they will have to pay more, as is stipulated in the law," he added.
It's worth noting that the fruit industry is going through a crisis and, even though the transparency laws protect the established minimum price, there is no guarantee that the producers will be able to cover production costs and make a profit.
In past meetings, some producers claimed the minimum price should be set at 35 cents per kilo of fruit sent to the cold rooms, and at 17.5 cents per kilo for the juice industry. In the end they agreed on the 30 cent price that was approved .
Last season the table set a minimum price of 32 cents and there were settlements of 1.20 pesos.
The meeting was attended by legislators Jorge Ocampos and Norma Coronel; the Secretary of Fruit crops, Alberto Diomedi; the President of the Federation of Producers, Jorge Figueroa, and by Adalberto Santagni and Jorge Toranzo, who represented the INTA , among others.
Source: Telam
