are those of Chilecito. No superarán las 100 mil toneladas. Not exceed 100

thousand tons.

 The high temperatures were recorded in the last days in the province affected

olive plantations and harvest it as exceptional planned for 2010.

Because the incidence of frost in the past two years, producers had

concentrated their expectations for the season 2009-2010 to reach a record

harvest that exceeds 100 thousand tons, but the goal is not reached.

This time, the heat wave that lasted from 28 October to 2 November in the

northern area of the country mainly in the provinces of Catamarca, La Rioja,

San Juan and Tucuman, disrupted production.

The high temperatures of between 41 and 46 degrees, were accompanied by

dry winds and low relative humidity ranged between 28 and 30 per cent.

The development affects especially the late varieties at that time were in full

bloom and set.

According to the records of the House Olivícola of La Rioja, the most affected

area in the province is in Chilecito on farms in the Catinzaco and Vichigasta

area, but also recorded the impact of inclement weather in the capital and

Aimogasta .

 Orlando Barros, manager of the entity, said the affected plantations has to do

with the variety implanted and in this regard adding that "the variety chamomile

was the most resistant to the situation, because it was full and ripe fruit.

As commented that "all varieties were completing flowering, fruit freshly burnt

which was studded with a grain of pepper on the ground or in other cases dried

flower.

Variety

In the balance of the House picual variety, for the production of oil, with higher

incidence in the area is most affected Chilecito followed by plantations in the

department chamomile and Aimogasta Capital.

Thus it is estimated that the establishment of the West, where the variety is

more widespread the activity concerned will be hurt next year.

 While the picture is widespread, there are farms that are more affected than

others so in some places the loss is estimated at more than 40 percent and

other estimates as high as 30.

Either way, the Chamber expects that the decline does not exceed 30 percent

globally and even guarantees that "there olives" in 2010 because the

expectation was very high, is concerned about the situation of some producers

who were affected by frost in previous years and now have to endure this

inconvenience.

Previous records

In 2008 the olive production of La Rioja exceeded 90 thousand tons, while in

2009, due to the frost that was made in the previous winter, production was low.

Within this framework the producers had put all their expectations exceed 100

thousand tons in 2010, but apparently did not reach that goal.