The Argentine Blueberries Committee (ABC) producers celebrated their first export of more than 50 tons of blueberries leaving from the renewed Tucumán airport runway last Saturday. "We are pleased to be able to complete the first fully-fledged blueberry export to the United States, and we expect to continue on this path, strengthening the foreign market," said Federico Bayá, President of ABC.
The airplane used to make the first flight to Miami was a Boeing 767. The loading time was approximately one hour and two minutes. "The whole system of loading and the movement of pallets was impeccable. Intercargo's machinery made everything more agile," said Francisco Estrada, President of the Tucumán Association of Blueberry Producers (APRATUC), who was present during the loading.
The blueberry producers witnessed the whole operation live in order to verify the operation of the new facilities. "Everything worked according to expectations. The new rolling floor, the aerial pallet scales, and the transfer beds made work much easier. The new exit door also worked very well, which greatly minimized the contact between the inside and outside of the chamber, reducing their exposure to insects that could be in the air," the ABC reported.
On October 6 2016, the Nation's Ministry of Transport inaugurated Tucuman's 'Benjamín Matienzo' International Airport's expansion of its runway's commercial platform, where 600 meters were added to the 2,900 that already existed. "Working in partnership with the Government allowed us to obtain key improvements in infrastructure that streamline and optimize blueberries' commercial operations," explained Bayá.
"As a long-term goal, we aim to also consolidate ourselves in the English and European markets," said Baya, who reported that according to sector estimates, fresh blueberry exports would reach 18,000 tonnes, representing a 5% increase over 2016, and plans to export 63% of production to the United States-Canada, 21% to England and 16% distributed between continental Europe and other destinations.
"In this first flight there are 53 tons, more than could be loaded before, which could not reach 50, because the track was not long enough to make direct flights with a full load," explained Estrada. And he added: "The track's new signaling will allow it to be very safe enabling take-offs with only 400 mt of visibility, something unthought of in previous years."
In Tucumán, where in 2016 the fruit's production reached about 8,500 tons, of which 5,500 tons were destined for exporting. They were distributed: 74% to the United States, 14% to England; 10% to Europe and 2% to the rest of the world.
The ABC, which constitutes more than 80% of blueberry exports from our country, joins with the sector's regional chambers, which are: the Association of Producers of Mesopotamia (APAMA), the Argentine Chamber of Producers of Blueberries and other Berries (CAPAB), and the Association of Producers of Blueberries of Tucumán (APRATUC).
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