Reports of “Corrimiento” phenomenon in Río Negro and Neuquén, could cut total shipments
The starting gun has been fired on Argentina’s 2025/26 cherry season, but there are signs that export volumes could be lower than previously anticipated.
In September, the Argentine Chamber of Integrated Cherry Producers (Capci) reported that, barring any unforeseen weather events, shipments were expected to exceed last year’s 8,100 tonnes by 8 to 12 per cent.
The quality of the crop is reported to be good. However, in Río Negro and Neuquén – where the bulk of the country’s exportable production is concentrated – there are reports of a phenomenon known as “corrimiento”, whereby set fruit detaches from the tree prematurely.
Argentina’s cherry harvest begins in Mendoza and Jujuy, but this fruit is sold on the domestic market due to fruit fly issues. Production then moves to Patagonia, namely Río Negro, Chubut, Neuquén, and Santa Cruz.
Capci’s manager, Aníbal Caminiti, told local reporters that while this phenomenon is not unusual, it is manifesting itself with greater intensity this year, directly affecting the total volume of the harvest.
Capci believes this may be due to climatic factors. Although winter provided the required chilling hours, the quality of the chilling was not optimal, with sharp temperature fluctuations during May and July. This scenario, coupled with a warm spring, generated physiological changes in the trees that resulted in lower fruit retention, although without affecting their quality.
This has caused the association to be more cautious in its export projections. Caminiti said that in the best-case scenario, exports will remain at levels similar to last season, but he did not rule out that total shipments would fall below this.
Argentina’s cherry industry has undergone a period of sustained investments in post-harvest technology and irrigation systems in recent years. The land, water and climate in large swathes of the country are well suited to their cultivation, and over the years, growers have acquired the technical knowhow to produce high quality fruit.
However, growers are encumbered by high costs which curbs their competitiveness in the global market. This has limited the expansion in planted area, which has remained static at around 2,200ha for around 15 years.
