Pecan growers from across Southern Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and the surrounding area converged in Concordia, Argentina on the border of Argentina and Uruguay to hold the Cluster del Pecan for pecan growers across the region. 

 

Growers and aspiring growers met on March 30 and 31st last week to learn about current market conditions, growing best practices and the current pecan market in the area as well as the future outlook for growers. 

 

Experts in their respective fields gave talks to growers as well as answered questions that growers and prospective growers had to better understand the pecan landscape. The show covered a variety of topics and even had a guest appearance from APC and APPB director Alexander Ott explaining the roles of the APC and APPB in the US and abroad. Growers were given the chance to ask questions about the organizations for Ott to answer with a slight delay through an interpreter. 

 

Vendors set up to display their pecan products and services at the event to show growers the latest products and services available to them in the area. While the event is still new when compared to the southeastern US, the event along with the industry in the area is growing quickly. Popular varieties in the area are very similar to that of the southeastern US. Varieties like Cape Fear, Oconee, Pawnee, Sumner, Kiowa and others can be found. 

 

The meeting was well attended and had a lineup of entertaining and engaging speakers to educate growers and potential growers on various aspects of the pecan industry. Exports of pecans from the region are important as local consumption is minimal, and exporting best practices were discussed.