Preserves

Fruit Preserves.
The fruit Mendoza manufactures as preserves includes peaches, pears, pineapples, cherries, apricots and fruit salad. National production of fruit preserves averages 60,000 tons. Sixty-five percent of the total amount is represented by peaches, a production that has shown a growth rate of 60% in the last 15 years.

The most important preserve consumers are the USA, Germany, Spain, Japan and France. These countries account for 70% of global consumption. Argentina is positioned in the ninth place in the world ranking, with an annual per capita consumption of 1.8 cans of 850 gr. each. Peach preserves production is the most demanded in the domestic market (73%), followed by fruit salad (13%). The remaining 14% is distributed among pears, pineapples, cherries and apricots, among others.

There are about 50 manufacturers in this area. The top five concentrate 50% of national production. Most of the large factories manufacture (apart from fruit preserves) other products such as tomato by-products, confectionery, jams and marmalades, and canned vegetables.
About 90% of the processing companies are located in Mendoza.

Canned Vegetables.
Some canned vegetables produced by the province are: cucumbers and gherkins in vinegar, onions in vinegar, tomatoes, aubergines, and other vegetables in vinegar. Horticulture represents 11% of the cultivated area and 17% of the agricultural production.
The careful preparation of certain canned vegetables has resulted in a new production trend as a consequence of the product added value. In this way, tomatoes in wine, smoked aubergines and zucchinis, chutneys, olive and garlic pastes, dried fruit mixes, pickles, etc. stand as another alternative for the marketing of canned vegetables.

The most important food preserve consumers are the USA, Germany, Spain, Japan and France. These countries account for 70% of global consumption. Preserve exports have shown an upward trend in the last years, and about half of the export sales are accomplished in Mendoza.

Specialty food.
Specialty products imply high added value preserves and differentiate themselves from the rest by offering top-quality ingredients and canning processes, high prices due to top quality, and limited availability or production in order to target a small group of consumers.
They feature an excellent presentation (front and back labels, brochures and packaging), a limited and exclusive production, a personalized customer service to constantly meet consumer needs and an important quality-price ratio in all products.

Mendocinian companies take part in different programmes dealing with assistance, promotion and marketing in order to place their products in foreign markets, to improve their business margin, to get in touch with prospective customers, and to reach international quality standards.

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Olive-growing

Mendoza is the first olive producer in Argentina. According to the area grown with olives -intended for production either of preserves or of oil-, the province represents 34% of the productive national cultivated area.
Olive cultivation in Argentina originated in former times, and from the beginning it meant a very relevant production in Mendoza’s economic activity. Industrial olive by-products are olive oil and olive preserves. In Mendoza, 103 registered factories are devoted to manufacturing olive by-products.

Almost 60% of the cultivated area corresponds to varieties used for the production of olive preserves to satisfy the high demand of international importers, and more than 20% is oriented to olive oil production. The remaining 16% of the olive-producing area is cultivated with double-purpose varieties.

Varieties cultivated in the province and aimed to olive preserves are: arauco, sevillana, manzanilla, aloreña and aslocano. Most of them are green olives, followed by black olives and Californian ones, which represent the smaller group. The olive variety fit for olive oil production is called arbequina and the double-purpose varieties are farga, empeltre and frantoio.

Olive oil is one of the main products exported by the province. Green olive exports sales amount to about USD 39 million, ranking third after fresh garlic and grape juice. Brazil is the first customer of Mendoza’s olive oil, and Greece and the USA come second. The following countries rank among the main destinations in order of importance: Chile, Uruguay, Mexico and Spain.

Due to its top-quality products, Argentina has been climbing up throughout time to position itself in relation to world demand. Scientific research has revealed the beneficial effects of olive oil on human health through several applications, and producing countries profit from it.

Types of oil produced in Mendoza.

Virgin olive oil: Extra virgin, Fine, Normal, Lampanten (inedible).
Refined olive oil: it is the oil extracted in pressings but which does not achieve a perfect flavor or does not reach a high degree of acidity (maximum 3%).
Pure olive oil: It is a blend of refined and virgin olive oil to provide a softer taste.
Refined olive-pomace oil: olive-pomace oil is obtained by using authorized solvents to extract the residual olive mash and has been neutralized, bleached, deodorized and winterized.
Olive-pomace oil for industrial purposes: it is obtained after the extraction of olive pomace that has not been subjected to a refining process. It is not authorized for human consumption.

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Dry, dried and dehydrated products

Mendoza’s dry, dried and dehydrated fruit cultivation, as the rest of the fruits in this province, are watered with spring water channelled in from melting snow caps in the Andes. The combination of Mendoza’s soil –rich in nutrients- and the experience and technique gained by the sector entrepreneurs allows an international top-quality product, resulting in a final fruit with a higher sugar degree, of varied sizes and excellent texture.

The dried fruit varieties produced in the province are: apricots, raisins, stone prunes, stoneless prunes, mixed fruits, pears and apples. However, plum growing in the south of the province is the most prominent as it represents 69% of the cultivated area in the country.
The plum-drying industry has been traditionally based on the D’agen variety, has been spread over the cultivated area due to its favourable industrial characteristics. In a minor scale, other plum varieties such as President, Pond’s and Sugar, and Imperial, have also been cultivated.
Plums may be tenderized, with or without stone. The tenderising process may have an intermittent cycle (southern hemisphere system) or a continuous cycle (northern hemisphere).

Mendoza’s dry fruit exports include the following market destinations: the USA, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Italy, Spain and Dominican Republic.

Dry fruit is especially nutritious since when drying, its elements reach its maximum concentration levels: proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, mineral salts and fibre.

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Related Web Sites.
www.idr.org.ar
www.inta.gov.ar
www.alimentacion-sana.com.ar
www.alimentosargentinos.gov.ar
www.infoagro.com/frutas/frutos_secos
www.nutriverde.com.ar/frutassecas
www.frutasecas.com
www.products.kompass.com
www.dusen.net/frutadesecada

Trade Fairs and internacional events in which Fundación ProMendoza takes part.
Feria Sial París
Feria Sial Mercosur
Feria Fancy Food
Ferio Biofach Alemania