Argentine Food, A Natural Choice The Argentine Republic is worldwide known not only for the tango and soccer, but also for the quality of its food. Argentina is located at the southern end of the American continent, between parallels 22 and 54. The country dedicates more than 60% of its 280 million hectares to agricultural production. Its geographical vastness –it is the eighth country in surfacetogether with climatic amplitude that ranges from subtropical to cold temperate, has given this land a series of rich and varied ecosystems with an outstanding capacity for food production. This feature attracted, during the 19th Century last decades and the 20th Century first decades, an important migratory flow.
European, Arabian and Asian people spread along the country’s different regions with their dreams, traditions and their production and consumption habits. So many and diverse idiosyncrasies integrated in such a vast country generated, as time passed, a different culture that today opens to the world, offering its best: its food, and among them, its organic food. Oils, Meats, Spices, Jams, Fresh Fruits, Grains, Honey, Cheeses, Tea and Wines.
Quality Food. Organic Certification. Food in Harmony with Nature.
ORGANIC ARGENTINA Argentina is an important organic food producer and exporter at the South Hemisphere. It holds the second position –behind Australia- in surface devoted to the organic production system, with over 4 million certified hectares. Argentine organic food basket, includes oils, sugar cane, bovine and ovine cattle, cereals and oilseeds, spices and aromatic herbs, fresh fruit, processed fruits and vegetables, flours, vegetables and legumes, fruit juices, dairy and cheese, honey and wine. Argentina counts with the European Union equivalence for the CE 834/2007 new regulation, with the acknowledgment of Japan (Memorandum of Understanding MOU) issued by Ministerial Order MAFF Nº 90, 12-12-2006, published at the Japanese Official Bulletin nº 4482. Certifying companies, besides being authorized and controlled by the official National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health and Quality (SENASA - Servicio Nacional de Sanidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria-SENASA), count with the United States Agriculture Department (USDA) accreditations for the National Organic Program, NOP. All this has allowed our country to consolidate as a reliable organic, healthy and high quality food supplier.
FOTO:
García Betancourt
Argentine Organic Sector
The beginning of Argentine organic production can be traced back to the middle ‘80s decade. The “new productive option”, based on the philosophic conviction that it is necessary to produce in harmony with nature, was definitely accepted by numerous primary producers, even though they did not count yet with a clear and defined regulatory frame. However, they decided to produce under a new system and to meet the requirements of an increasing international demand. It was in 1992, when Resolutions 423 and 1286 from the National Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries and from the National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health and Quality respectively offered the necessary legal frame for the development of organic agriculture. Years after, in 1999, Law 25.127 that regulates the productive sector activity was passed.
In 1992, Argentina counted with nearly 4.500 hectares, distributed among 51 enterprises devoted to certified organic production. The offer was limited to some fruits and oilseeds. In 2009 the enterprises are more than two thousand and the surface devoted to certified organic production overcomes 4 million hectares: 3.097.128 are destined to cattle production (bovine and ovine) producing meat and dairy and 904.873 are devoted to industrial cultivation production, cereals, oilseeds, fruits, vegetables and legumes, aromatic herbs, infusions (tea and yerba mate,ilex paraguayensis), honey and wines. The growth of Argentine organic production system was based in four factors: the renown agro ecological qualities for food production of the Argentine territory, the adequate normative frame for the activity –in total agreement with the
OMS/FAO-CODEX ALIMENTARIUS MUNDI norms- , the producers’ conviction for carrying out a sustainable agriculture and the techno-professional quality of the national certifying agencies that signed co-responsibility contracts with their Asian, European and USA peers getting through this the opening of new markets. In 17 years, Argentina turned into one of the South Hemisphere organic food production and exports leaders. To reach and consolidate this position, entrepreneurs updated their fresh and processed selection, packing and storing systems –to keep Argentine naturalness- and developed an efficient exports' logistic.
Oils, Certified Quality
Argentina counts with a long tradition in edible oils production. But, only in the 20th Century last decades it consolidated an industrial sector that today integrates the world most modern oil complex, situated at one of the country’s richest zones, almost in the center of the Wet Plain (Pampa Húmeda). More than one thousand kilometers far to the West, at the Andine valleys, another oil industry began to grow: olive oil, that taking profit of the natural features of the region has strongly extended the planted areas with the most required varieties by the international demanding markets. Thus, conjugating the excellence of a rich and varied ecosystem,
that offers raw material with high quality ecological certification, the “know how” our country holds in oil elaboration and the organic production system, oils that keep flavors and aromas from each origin region are obtained. These unique circumstances make these oils be much required internationally.
Edible Oils Certified Quality
• Sunflower oil • Peanut Oil • Olive Oil (virgin, extra virgin and varietal) • Soybean Oil.
PRODUCTION ZONES
Aromatics, Spices and Essential Oils, Argentina produces spices and aromatic herbs all over its territory. Some of them are native and others came with the immigrants that settled in these lands. Since the beginning of the organic activity at our country, there were entrepreneurs that faced the challenge to obtain aromatic herbs and spices with organic certification and they performed it successfully. Today Argentina counts with a large spices and aromatic herbs basket. Their cultivation is carried out in hills and mountain zones, in the Andine valleys and in plateaus where climate is dry, but also in almost virgin scrublands from the Chaco plains or in Misiones forest,
where humidity reigns. Both zones allow obtaining spices and aromatics of outstanding colors that maintain fragrances and textures typical from the South. The offer also integrates lemon, orange, mandarin and rosehip essential oils and scents derived from apples, pears and citrus.
Ecologic Aromatics, Spices and Scents. Certified. Fragrances, Flavors and Textures from the South.
• Aromatics and Spices: Real Thyme, India Verbena, Tarragon, Hyssop, Lavender, Mint, Oregano, Pepper, Chili pepper, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme. • Essential oils: Lemon, Mandarin, Orange, Rosehip • Aromatic products: Lemon, Mandarin, Apple, Orange, Pear.
PRODUCTION ZONES
Aromatics Essential oils Aromatic products
Sugar and Alcohol, Bicentennial Tradition At subtropical valleys in Argentine North West and at Misiones forest, in the North East end, water is abundant, the climate is wet and temperatures are high. Agro ecological conditions are exceptional for sugar cane cultivation, activity that in our country counts with a tradition over two centuries. The resulting “know how” has allowed our country to position among the ten main conventional sugar exporters in the last years. Advantageous environmental conditions, combined with the effort of new enterprises getting sustainable systems –biological as well as economical- explain that from the industrialized organic
food basket, sugar and its derivates (molasses, syrups and alcohols) have obtained unanimous renown due to its superior quality. In this context, ecologic alcohol is shown as an incipient innovation with great increase possibilities due to its acceptance in different world markets.
• • • • •
White sugar Brown sugar Molasses Syrups Alcohols over 80º gradation.
PRODUCTION ZONES
Sugar Alcohol
Bovine Meat, Argentine Quality
Argentina is internationally renowned by the quality of its conventional bovine meat, as well as organic ones. Organic meat is the result of a production model based on a sound knowledge of nature. It Takes advantage of the possibilities offered by different ecosystems that optimize the breed and animal fattening. Those animals are unaware of confinement inconvenience and grain flavor. They profit instead of a benign climate, abundant water and the natural fertility of Argentine prairies that they daily wander satiating with fresh pastures. Thus the world is
offered a renewed quality of their foreign breeds (Aberdeen Angus and Hereford among others) turned into tender and juicy meats, fat free in muscle tissue, balanced flavors and very low cholesterol content.
Bovine Organic Meats Quality Meats.
PRODUCTION ZONE
Lambs with Patagonic Magic At Patagonia imposing immensity, geography full of magic and mystery, long distances, polar winds and hidden lakes in mountains, lamb found the natural land for its development. This perhaps explains that Argentina has been the first country to officially issue norms for ovine cattle breeding and by extension organic wool production. The Andine plateau, between Cordillera de los Andes and the Atlantic Ocean became the ideal site for ovine production. This represents the major proportion of total surface under organic certification in our country.
The climate, pastures and careful man’s work led to obtain subtle and lean meat, and abundant excellent quality wool.
• Meats • Wools
PRODUCTION ZONES
Meats with Patagonic Mystery Wools with Magic from the South
Meats Wools
Cereals and Oilseeds, Everlasting Quality Since late in the 19th Century till no much further the mid 20th Century, Argentina was renowned, popularly and internationally as the “world granary”, recovering this status in the last years: today, our country covers more than 30 million hectares in conventional grain production. This has settled it as the first sunflower and soybean derivate products worldwide exporter, second in corn and peanut and fifth in wheat. Faithful to this tradition and from the beginning of organic production, our country has become a relevant actor at the international ecologic cereals and oilseeds commerce. Sunflower, corn, wheat and soybean have a greater
participation in the offer, integrated by oat, safflower, barley, colza, flax and millet as well. The country also exports in lesser amount, flint corn and buckwheat. Organic cereal and oilseed production is situated at the vast and fertile plains of the Wet Pampa (Pampa Humeda) and neighboring areas. It is featured by an adequate rotation schedule, which takes into account diversity and stability of integral productive systems.
• Cereals: Rice, Oat, Barley, Flax, Corn (white, flint and red), Millet, Sorghum, Wheat (candeal, bread and Saracen) • Oilseeds: Safflower, Colza, Sunflower, Soybean
PRODUCTION ZONES
Natural Grains. Organic grains with Tradition.
Jams, Flavor from the South
Jams, marmalades and canned fruits are elaborated with first selection organic fruit. Production is carried out following traditional methods, obtaining jams and preserves with unique flavor, aroma, color and texture features. Its appearance, freshness and taste are incomparable and recall us nature’s goodness. Native selected berries from the Andine valleys are outstanding in jams, pip fruits from Valle del Rio Negro and diverse fruits coming from Subtropical North as well. Elaboration plants, equipped with state of the arts technology, reassure an optimum quality final product that keeps fresh fruit original organoleptic features.
Original from fresh fruit. Certified Organic Jams Jams with Flavors of the South.
• Jams and marmalades: Blueberry, Cassis, Cherry, Plum, Apricot, Peach, Raspberry,Strawberry, Fig, Apple, Quince, Pear, Rosehip, Elder, Grape Orange, Grapefruit • Preserved Fruits: Cherry, Apricot, Peach, Pear and Apple Purée.
PRODUCTION ZONES
Fresh Fruit, Maximum Naturalness Argentina is a relevant protagonist at the international fruit scene. It is the world first lemon and pears exporter, fifth in apples (first in counter season), sixth in blueberries, seventh in mandarins, eighth in plums (third in counter season), tenth in oranges, eleventh in grapefruits and twelfth in cherries and grapes (fourth in counter season). Argentine fruit growers have a tradition in quality. This explains that organic fresh fruit production is one of the pillars in which our country’s ecological system is based. The excellence of its flavor makes organic fruits outstanding. They are produced in different regions of the country, according to agro
ecologic and climatic requirements for each variety and offering the benefit for its consumption along the whole year. Argentina outstands at the international scene in pip fruit, stone fruit, selected berries and grapes and diverse citrus varieties as well.
• • • •
Citrus fruits: Lemon, Mandarin, Orange Pip fruits: Apple, Pear Stone fruit: Plums Selected berries: Cherries, Raspberries, Strawberries, Grapes
Organic Fresh Fruit Fruit Quality and Naturalness.
PRODUCTION ZONES
Flours, Acknowledged Quality Argentina dedicates over 30 million hectares to cereal and oilseed production, and usually it has obtained average yields higher than competitor countries. Thus, our country is internationally acknowledged as a key actor in grain production and commercialization. This acknowledgment is also extensive to processed grains, and especially to flours, from oilseeds or cereals as well. In Argentina there are more than 100 enterprises that, with process modern technologies and the application of the most strict quality norms, dedicate to milling, preserving and some times improving the original grain quality.
Flours from organic cereals and oilseeds are obtained by a careful grain milling process that allows keeping all their properties and their nutritional original content.
• Flours: Rice, Corn (white and red), Soybean, Wheat (candeal, bread and Saracen)
Organic Flours. Acknowledged Quality Flours.
PRODUCTION ZONES
Vegetables and Legumes, American tradition Vegetables production is a tradition of our people. Examples of this are potato, sweet potato, corn, squash and pumpkin cultivations among others, preexistent to colonization. Argentina counts with more than 410.000 hectares devoted to vegetables and legumes conventional production. Furthermore, it occupies privileged positions among garlic, beans, and pumpkin and onion exporters. Vegetables are produced in almost all over the country regions. But organic production is mainly situated in two regions: Central and Cuyo. Garlic, onions and pumpkins lead Argentine organic vegetable productions, considering the used surface and the commercialized volume.
Instead, organic legumes production zones are situated at the Argentine North West, along dry plains, crossed by mountain chains that form numerous valleys. Beans (alubia, red, cranberry, black and pallar) and lentils are main components of the sector basket. In certified organic vegetables, as well as in legumes, a strict quality control is carried out starting in the seed, going on at sowing, harvesting and post harvesting too. Products keeping fragrances, flavors and protein values are thus obtained.
Biologic Vegetables and Legumes. American Tradition .
• Vegetables: Garlic, Pumpkin, Onion, Asparagus, Squash • Legumes: Pea, Lentil, Bean (Alubia, Red, Cranberry, Black and Pallar)
PRODUCTION ZONES
Vegetables Legumes
Tea and Yerba Mate, Austral Nature Argentine farmers devote almost 50.000 hectares to conventional tea and yerba mate production, geographically situated between 26º to 28º South Latitude. This is the most Southern infusion producer region of the world. Argentine North East, bordering Brazil and Paraguay, is a subtropical region, with red soil, high humidity and high temperatures. All of them necessary conditions for producing quality infusions; that are boosted by man’s work and the organic production system, resulting in delicate and special flavors and aromas.
• Tea: Black, Green, Green with herbs, Digestive Green, Medicinal Green • Yerba Mate: Crushed, with or without sticks.
PRODUCTION ZONES
Delicious tea varieties. Yerba Mate, Argentine tradition. Certified organic infusions. Refined Austral flavor and aroma.
Fruit Juices and Pulps, Always Natural Argentina is an important actor in conventional fresh fruit and juices production and commercialization. It is lemon, pear, and grape juice or must main exporter, third grapefruit juice exporter and fifth apple juice exporter. In our country there is a real “know how” in fruit juice and pulp. This knowledge was taken to organic fruit processing to turn them into concentrated or frozen fruit juice that keep fruit natural flavor. They are high quality products, destined to the most demanding world consumers. A similar position has been achieved by organic fruit pulp
producer enterprises, with the same quality level and identical acknowledgement among consumers.
• Juices : Lemon – Mandarin – Apple – Orange – Pear – Grapes • Pulps: Plum – Apricot – Peach – Strawberry – Pear
PRODUCTION ZONES
Organic Fruit Juice and Pulp. Natural Quality
Honey, Certified Tradition Honey possesses renowned qualities and is used since remote times as natural food and sweetener by human beings. Argentine honey counts with an international sound prestige. Our country is positioned second at conventional honeys international commerce. Many specialists place them among the best in the world. This is due to our productive area vastness, the diversity of our flora, water abundance and climate mildness that favor high yields per beehive. Organic honey is obtained from the most varied native flora nectar and from wild species, in surfaces ecologically certified, that get different color shades,
aromas and delicious flavors, typical at each particular region. This honey quality is obtained through a general apiary management, and excellent micro-environmental conditions at the nectar and pollen collection that Argentina offers.
Honey of Excellence. Organic. Certified Tradition Honeys.
PRODUCTION ZONES
Wines, Bo led Passion With a tradition more than four centuries old, Argentine viniculture stretches alongside Andine valleys, protected by the Cordillera de los Andes immensity from storms and strong winds coming from the Pacific Ocean. Sheltered in valleys where the sun shines more than 300 days per year and where vine receive nutrients from thaw water, in a dry climate and at an average height 800 meters over sea level, viniculture has made the most of the region agro ecological exceptional conditions, boosted by man’s effort and passion and the adoption of the state of the art process technology.
In the last years, wines have become one of Argentine great value elaborated organic products sector with international acknowledgement. In the late ‘90s public recognized Malbec and conventional Torrontés wines. Today this recognition is extended to organic wines, with its natural traditional flavor.
• Red: Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Sirah, Tempranillo • Rosé: Malbec- Merlot • White: Chardonnay- Sauvignon Blanc, Torrontés.
PRODUCTION ZONES
Ecologic wines. Wines which are nothing but Bottled Passion.
Certifying Enterprises
Argencert SRL B. de Irigoyen 972 – 4° “B” (1072) Ciudad de Buenos Aires Tel: 54 11 4363 0033 Fax: 54 11 4363 0202 E-mail: argencert@argencert.com.ar Site: www.argencert.com.ar Food Safety SA Varela 183 – (1406) Ciudad de Buenos Aires Tel: 54 11 4612 1257 Fax: 54 11 4612 1257 E-mail: foodsafety@foodsafety.com.ar Site: www.foodsafety.com.ar
Argentine Organic Sector Organizations
Movimiento Argentino para la producción Orgánica (MAPO) Sarmiento 1562 – 6º “F” (1042) – Buenos Aires Telefax: 54 11 4382 5562 E-mail: info@mapo.org.ar Site: www.mapo.org.ar Cámara Argentina de Productores Orgánicos Certificados (CAPOC) Arias 1691 – 4º “C” – (1429) – Buenos Aires Telefax: 54 11 4704-0880
Argentine Food, A Natural Choice
Letis SA Urquiza 1564 – (2000) Rosario – Santa Fe TE: 54 341 426 4244 Fax: 54 341 426 4244 E-mail: info@letis.com.ar Site: www.letis.com.ar Organización Internacional Agropecuaria SA Santa Fe 830 (1641) Acasusso – Buenos Aires TE: 54 11 4793 4340 Fax: 54 11 4798 6514 E mail: oia@oia.com.ar Site: www.oia.com.ar
E-mail: info@organicoargentina.org Site: www.organicoargentina.org Cámara Argentina de Certificadoras de Alimentos, Productos Orgánicos y Afines (CACER) Av. de Mayo 981, 2º Piso, Of. 220 (1084), Buenos Aires Telefax:: 54 11 4342- 3753 E-mail: info@cacer.org.ar Site: www.cacer.org.ar
With the objective of promoting and preserving the authenticity and originality of Argentine Food, the national Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food designed the Quality Label Argentine Food, a natural choice (“Alimentos Argentinos, una elección natural”) which allows that enterprises that comply with a number of requisites can obtain the recognition of the consumers of a quality that satisfies their expectations or a determined flavor. This offers to clients and consumers the guarantee that the products are elaborated according to specific characteristics and above all it awards / grants a special badge to Argentine food that present characteristic and constant value attributes.