<p style="text-indent:0px; line-height:12px;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Argentina -</span><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">By ANUK Staff<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">01.08.13</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Mendoza’s Association of Fresh Fruit Producers and Exporters (Aspeff) communicated their worries to the Government concerning the damage caused by hailstorms and Zonda wind on the upcoming harvests. The entity expressed that more than 100 million kilos of pears, apples and peaches have been affected.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/Hail-Damage-Body.jpg" alt="01082013" /></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>"The problem is deciding what to do with the fruit affected, as it is neither suitable for export, nor for fresh consumption in the national market. Chances for them to be absorbed by the processing industry at reasonable prices are very slim," explained Juan Riviera, president of the association. "High costs prevent shipping the affected fruit to packing plants for their selection, making it impossible to rescue whatever fruit is still in good condition," he added.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">According to an article in Los Andes, the Minister of Agriculture and Industry, Marcelo Barg, assured that the damage caused by hailstorms has already been evaluated and that production areas in a state of emergency will receive enough compensation through the Agricultural Solidarity Fund.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">In regards to the crops affected by Zonda winds on December 24th, Barg pointed out that the affected areas still need to be examined, but once they do, the response will be acceptable.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">"In general terms, we do not expect losses caused by Zonda wind, except in the case of apples. We are working along with people from the various productive sectors," he added.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.losandes.com.ar/notas/2013/1/4/fruta-para-exportar-millones-kilos-peligro-689237.asp" target="_new">Argentinean Fruit </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
