Argentina's pome fruit harvest looks set to start earlier than normal this coming season, as warm days and a 'good spring' speed up the flowering process in Rio Negro and Neuquén. 

Argentine Chamber of Integrated Fruit Growers (CAFI) executive director Marcelo Loyarte told www.freshfruitportal.com warm days in September had indirectly affected the fruit's maturity.

"There is a maturity program that measures both the age of the fruit as well as the maturity indices, and it is showing that the fruit is a few days ahead of recommended dates for the harvest," he said.

Loyarte said the date after which growers were authorized to harvest their crops had been brought forward roughly a week.

This date varies significantly depending on the different varieties, and harvest will begin for the Williams pear - which is the most produced and exported cultivar - on Jan. 10.

The maturity program was developped by both the public and private sectors to ascertain the best harvest date at the regional level.

"It's very important because it allows us to monitor the evolution of the fruit and ensure that the whole region harvests under the best phenological conditions," Loyarte said.

The pome fruit crop is shaping up well this season thanks to the good weather, apart from a few isolated cases where growers received hail. The higher-than-usual temperatures will also have no negative bearing on the fruit quality.

"From a climatological point of view, we see no difficulty and the fruit will be of good quality and normal sizing," Loyarte said.

The harvest calendar must be first approved by Argentina's National Food Health and Quality Service (Senasa) before it can be made official.

Around 70% of Williams pears are expected to be exported, along with 40% of apple production.

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