This Thursday, October 19, two days earlier than last season, the cherry harvest will begin in the northern area of Mendoza, specifically in the orchards of Güizzo Frutas Frescas SA. In this regard, we spoke with its Commercial Manager, Fernando Güizzo.
«We hope to start tomorrow, we have been doing it for the last three or four years with early varieties from Zaiger; Zaiger has developed a series of early varieties, we have almost four of his varieties and tomorrow we will start with two of them. There are two important aspects to highlight, one is that these very early production varieties have adapted super well to the Mendoza climate, to the characteristics of the climate and we have been having a lot of stability at the productive level and with the beginning of the harvest week, and that is where I establish a difference with the fourth region of Chile, which is a much more marginal climate than in Mendoza, in the sense that there are years when they start week 43, there are years when they start week 42 and this year with a lot of effort and climate they have started week 41," commented Güizzo.
For the last three seasons, Güizzo Frutas Frescas SA has started harvesting during week 42 with very good productions.
“Mendoza has the particularity of ensuring a good entry into the dormant period with a winter cold supply that exceeds 400 accumulated hours of cold. Added to this is a good accumulation of degree-day hours from August, which allows most of the early varieties to show interesting yields with very good quality and especially with harvest dates well in advance compared to other productive areas.", added Fernando Güizzo.
Güizzo Frutas Frescas SA has been present in Mendoza for more than 40 years. The company has specialized in the production of early cherry varieties, which are sold entirely by air to the European Union, the United Kingdom, the Middle East and the Far East, in addition to supplying the main retailers and wholesalers in the Argentine domestic market. Today they manage cherry production on 50 hectares distributed mainly in the areas of Luján de Cuyo and Valle de Uco located in the province of Mendoza.
«Here in the northern area of Mendoza we have the entire varietal package earlier and in fact tomorrow we are starting here, in the northern area of Mendoza; in the Uco valley we are also with varieties such as Lapins in production, but we are there with a new project that is to try to start with Nimba and Pacific approximately in week 44, hopefully in a couple of years, which could constitute the first cherries from Argentina that could travel directly to China; on the other hand, as we specialize in early varieties, it is our north, our passion and it is the market window that we want to attack, we are also doing a test block of 5 hectares in the northwest of Argentina, given that there would apparently be certain agroclimatic conditions for varieties with low cold hour requirements to reach production between week 40-41; this would be the first half of October, which would be very interesting, but only within 3-4 years will we be in a position to have a result of this project», announced the Commercial Manager.
The company Güizzo Frutas Frescas SA produces the bulk of the volume of cherries in Mendoza, Argentina, corresponding to approximately 300 tons.
"60 percent is destined for export and 40 percent for the domestic market, taking into account that the domestic market is clean at the start; Argentina has a strong cherry-eating culture and therefore has an important, strong market, but the bulk is exported," Güizzo clarified.
Main challenges of the season
Each season has different challenges and on this occasion, for cherry producers in Mendoza, Argentina, the focus was and is on climatic aspects that are decisive for the success of production.
«In Mendoza, generally, the challenges we have every year are related to the end of winter. The issue is that in the spring Mendoza faces the risk of frost, which is combated with irrigation systems, water systems, which allow the risk to be mitigated. Now, facing the harvest, not so much with these varieties, but rather in December and November, is when we can face some rain. Mendoza has a rainfall regime, unlike Chile, which is more Mediterranean, which is more concentrated in the winter months, we have it concentrated in the summer season. We mitigate it with plastic covers. Here we are the only producers who have this technology, which is abundant in Chile and which allows us to protect the fruit from rain. We also have anti-hail nets in case of a severe summer storm, where hail can cause some type of damage.", explained Fernando Güizzo.
The most cultivated cherry varieties currently in Mendoza are Royal Dawn, Brooks, Nimba, Pacific Red, Santina and Lapins, among others, which allows them to start the harvest in mid-October. However, they are working to advance the start of the season: “We are very focused on the objective of anticipating the start of the harvest season to the first half of October, since the consumer markets are practically clear of this seductive fruit,” concluded Fernando Güizzo, Commercial Manager of Güizzo Frutas Frescas SA
