Today, Tucumán has a cargo airport of 3850 m2 with a cold chamber and pre-chamber, which enable to maintain the fruit quality, remarkably improving the logistics. For this harvest three flights per day are estimated and 5000 tons of fruit will be sent from Tucumán.

In Argentina, reaching markets like the US, with 12 hours of travel from Ezeiza Airport, and 15 hours to Europe, plus the time to reach Ezeiza from the place where the fruit is produced, was one of the main problems for the NOA producers. To reach Ezeiza International Airport, 1275 km must be travelled, this demands 20 hours by truck, which implies jeopardizing the cargo, which may not arrive in good conditions, and cannot be followed up properly.

In view of this situation, in 2006, the private blueberries sector of Tucumán contacted the government sector, thus articulating the public and private areas in order to seek the alternative to be able to export directly from the airport of Tucumán, thus being able to control processes and try to optimize times. The challenge was, and still is, very big.

After making all the necessary proceedings before the organs that had to take part, such as Customs, Senasa, Airport Police, USDA, among others, finally, in 2007, the export of 136 tons of fresh fruit began, which arrived in destination in excellent conditions.

In the search for better conditions before the growth of exports, the idea of building a permanent cold chamber with better conditions for the fruit and for the airport workers emerged. Again, this is achieved through the public-private interaction. Today, Tucumán has a cargo airport of 3850 m2, with a cold chamber and pre-chamber, which enable to maintain the fruit quality, remarkably improving the logistics and the buildup of a new commercial park that provided greater shipping time availability for the fruit.

When asked about the movements of this season, Francisco Estrada, President of APRATUC , indicated that the blueberries exports in Tucumán began via Ezeiza during the first days of September, in bulk to the U.S. On August 28 th , the first export from the Tucumán Airport was made. The new park, with finished works, will start operating on Friday, October 7 th .

Estrada estimated that 5000 tons of fruit will be sent from Tucumán. So far, two daily flights have been taking place, but for the coming days the frequency might increase to three flights per day, given the greater entry of blueberries in full season.

As regards the advantage of having the NOA airport, Estrada stated that the fact of not having to move the production to Buenos Aires implies a very significant time saving, highlighting too the excellent cold treatment Tucumán has, since there are not collapse inconveniences with the chamber.

The President of APRATUC agreed with Fernando Martorell by indicating that the fruit arriving in good quality conditions at its destination is the result of a good treatment process from the harvest to the moment of reception in destination.

He also mentioned the characteristics of the Argentine blueberries which, being sweet and pleasing to eat, are positioned in a select place worldwide.