BUENOS AIRES: The situation of the blueberry sector, sustained growth, and the possibilities of industrialization and progress in the domestic market were evaluated during the Seventh Regional Technical Conference on Blueberries, organized by the Association of Producers of Blueberries from Mesopotamia Argentina (Apama). The highest local and province authorities attended the conference. The president of Apama, Omar Chiarello, highlighted the growth of the conference, which is attended by more people each year, and the commitment of the professionals to continue investing in development.
The biggest meeting of the blueberry sector in Latin America was held on June 25 and 26 at the Convention Center Concordia (in the northeast region of Argentina). The Seventh Regional Technical Conference on Blueberries brought together over three hundred producers and industry professionals who came from the main producing regions of Argentina, such as Buenos Aires, Tucuman and Concordia, and also from Chile and Uruguay, countries with a great presence of berries.
There were various presentations throughout the day, all aimed at evaluating and analyzing the reality of blueberry production, both in terms of domestic consumption and its current presence in international markets. Thus, issues such as the pursuit of strategies to strengthen the Argentine consumption, the outstanding challenges of cranberry production, which still allocates more than 90% of their crops for exports, were discussed.
The conference was broadcast live by the TV show Cocineros Argentinos via Public Television in the morning to promote the different uses of blueberries in the kitchen and had great support from the public, who enjoyed the warmth and joy of chefs Juan Ferrara and Ximena Saenz.
The opening of the Conference, which had a great display of companies and professionals related to production and logistics, was attended by the Minister of Production of the Province, Roberto Schunk; the provincial senator Enrique Cresto, and Secretary of Production and Local Jobs, Nestor Loggio.
Host Mayor Gustavo Bordet also attended the conference at noon and said to professionals and businessmen that “the local government is deeply committed to the growth of the sector, and we are particularly interested you do well because the dynamism acquired by the city is evident each time there is a blueberry harvest.”
Therefore, he added, and considering the enormous potential that the sector has, we can’t hesitate in supporting this event, as it demonstrates the interest that the businessmen have to innovate and continue investing in its growth, concluded Bordet.
The president of Apama, Omar Chiarello, thanked him for his presence and highlighted the growth of the conference, which has been taking place for seven years in a row. “This conference reflect our commitment to the continued evolution of blueberry production, always seeking to advance the line of innovation,” he said. He also thanked city officials for allowing it to take place in the Convention Centre, which makes the people of Concordia proud, he said.
There has been blueberry production in the region for ten years and its importance and impact on the economic dynamics of Concordia grows every year. This year’s harvest is expected to be higher than what was expected, reaching a production of over ten million kilos and employing about twelve thousand people during peak harvest.
Among the breakthroughs, the industry has managed, via the introduction of new varieties, to increase the length of the harvest from 60 to 100 days or more in some cases.
