Sowing Well-being: fruit growing as an engine of progress

When analyzing a country's economies, fruit farming is often included due to its contribution to production, export, and job creation. However, there are many other factors of great importance that this sector provides to the community and the country's well-being, which are generally overlooked or little known. These aspects, both economic and social, should be considered to give the sector the true significance it deserves in society.

Generation of direct and indirect employment

There is no doubt that fruit farming is one of the activities that generate the most employment, far surpassing other agricultural, industrial, or commercial activities. According to a recent study by Conicet-INTA: "Approximately 1,000 hectares of fruit produce employment for 1,000 people." "It is the second most employment-intensive activity after cotton." "A small to medium-sized producer provides work for at least 2 families per 10 hectares. In soy, 2 people are needed per establishment." In addition to this direct employment, indirect jobs are created through secondary activities such as input production (irrigation, nets, agrochemicals, packaging materials), transportation, logistics, and marketing. In fruit-growing regions, a good or bad harvest impacts the entire regional economy.

Labor: strength and weakness

The need for a large number of workers, which is a strength of the sector, is also its main weakness. Managing so many workers is increasingly complex and difficult. Fruit growing has ceased to be an attractive activity, with fewer people willing to spend the day outdoors, with few services and doing physical activity. Added to this are the temporary workers, who have their own problems. This situation, common worldwide, has driven the search for greater technical development in tasks that replace or reduce manual labor. Labor costs and the way each region or country addresses this issue are decisive factors in determining the success or failure of fruit production.

Equitable territorial development

Fruit growing is largely carried out by small and medium-sized enterprises; large, multinational companies are the minority. This makes the activity a source of employment and social inclusion, promoting family settlements and demanding services such as education, healthcare, and transportation.

The dedication and care that the producer, owner of the farm puts, are fundamental to obtain quality fruits. In fact, the best fruits come from medium ventures, managed by their owners. The fruit grower lives with passion his work and, with pride, he considers that there is no fruit in the world better than his own.

Not only production, but also trade is very diversified. There are many companies, most medium, who participate. The big multinationals are the least.

Fruit as a symbol

Fruit is an agricultural product that easily connects with people and generates positive emotions. It is attractive, colorful, attracts attention, there are for all the tastes and times of the year, there is even some romanticism. In many cultures symbolizes abundance, fertility and generosity of nature. Therefore, it is frequently used in advertising campaigns, since it becomes better attention than other agricultural products. For example, it is not the same to advertise a cookie with a grain of rye, than with an apple. Also, in campaigns that alert about the danger of the use of agrochemical, it is common for fruit images to be used, even if they are not the cultivation involved, due to their greatest visual impact.

It is also common for fruit to be a regional identity symbol. The population feels generally proud of their fruit products. For example, associating the Black River Valley with the apples or the town of the ancients with the cherries, it is much more attractive than associating it with another activity, such as mining.

Fruit is health

In Argentina, fruit consumption shows a worrying downward trend, descending from 51 to 46 kg/hab/year, half of what is recommended by the World Health Association (100 kg/hab/year). This evolution coincides with a general deterioration in the quality of food and the increase in associated diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension and certain types of cancer. This has lit the alarms of governments, which have begun to implement policies to face the "pandemic of excess weight", although for now with poor results.

Promoting fruit consumption should be a state policy. In addition to promoting the development of a region, the health of the population would improve and representative a significant saving of public spending for health and social security. The absences at work for health reasons would also be reduced, improving the quality of life of the whole society.

Therefore, when analyzing a region, it is not enough to observe the direct economic data; It is essential to consider the global impact that the various aspects have on the welfare and development of the country.