Argentine President Mauricio Macri yesterday decreed a state of economic, productive, financial and social emergency for the apple and pear industry across five provinces.

The measure will apply to the provinces of Neuquén, Río Negro, Mendoza, San Juan and La Pampa, including not only growers but also traders, packing houses and cold storage operators.

The special measures will last for one year, giving those affected improved access to social security as well as payment facilities for tax obligations.

The Argentine pome fruit industry has been struggling with difficult market conditions in the last few years, to the point where growers have on occasion dumped fruit in major public places in a bid to raise awareness of their plight.

More recently, some growers in the provinces of Rio Negro and Neuquén were hit by hailstorms.

Photo: www.shutterstock.com

www.freshfruitportal.com