The Rich Valley

Starting at the City of General Roca, an ample tour around the valley unveils the heart of the economic activities practiced in the Provinces of Neuquén and Río Negro.

The routes of Alto Valle have an excellent letter of introduction: hectares and hectares of crops, especially fruit trees glowing with their new green shoots in certain seasons. This is a tour itself. However, there is more to it: some farms are open to visitors and show their production processes.

The area is crossed by the Negro, Limay and Neuquén Rivers and it lies close to the access to Argentinian Patagonia. The Provinces of Neuquén and Río Negro share their 120 kilometers of length and boast an industry that goes all around the world. That intricate river and creek network, in combination with rainfall, contribute the necessary humidity for the productive area to develop.

The fertile lands of the valley defined its fruit profile in 1930, when a canal irrigation system was already working in a systematic way. In addition, the arrival of the railway, which made it easier to carry products to the consumption centers, helped strengthen the richness of the region.


The Farms: Yesterday and Today

In 1883, the State divided the fields and created agricultural colonies. General Roca was the first one to start sowing. Afterwards, the English capital company took charge of the construction of the railway that became the owner of the first lands adjoining the irrigation canal. It was the employees of the canal and railway works who first bought the land plots to grow alfalfa, cereals, grapevines and fruit.

Thus, family farms devoted to growing Williams pears and Deliciosa apples -main production axis- started to emerge here and there.

The number of tons of pears and apples produced in the area, along with their by-products (juice, cider and so on) is surpassed year after year. Other crops such as grapevines, tomato and fruit like plum and peach are gradually becoming popular.

Allen is the Argentinian pear capital and, as such, the National Pear Festival is held every year in February. In turn, General Roca organizes the National Apple Festival also in the same month. Both of them summon great audiences coming from other cities and joining the celebrations held by local producers that present stands and remarkable music shows.

There are more than enough reasons to go around the farms and discover that fantastic world where the best fruit served at our tables is produced.

Source: Lic. Graciela Blanco Historia del Alto Valle - www.inta.gov.ar