Although many people associate San Pedro with oranges, peaches, and other stone fruits, the last twenty years have positioned this town in Buenos Aires as a land of nurseries.
The process of subdividing the land into small lots led historical producers to reproduce seedlings of different varieties, turning it into a nursery area.
Evolution of production in San Pedro
Located side by side and along the roads, the nurseries in San Pedro intercalate roses, fruit trees, ornamental shrubs, and native trees.
The Experimental Station of INTA has played a crucial role in this transition process. Laura Hansen, director for the past 5 years, explains: “San Pedro has a tradition of intensive productions for many years. Although we still are important in fruit growing, production has significantly changed in the last 20 years.”
The nurseries were born to supply the planting of fruit orchards, but over time, producers adapted their production to market demands, focusing on ornamental plants.
“We have 153 family nurseries”, highlights Hansen, emphasizing that many have started producing in pots, optimizing space usage.
Innovation and family in production
Most nurseries in San Pedro are family ventures, technified and with well-defined roles.
“Women are in charge of commercialization and economic management, while men handle staff management and fieldwork,” comments Hansen. This family structure has allowed the expansion and diversification of the nurseries.
San Pedro also stands out for the production of virus-free roses thanks to INTA projects, which have improved yields and plant quality.
“Now there are about 90 varieties of roses registered as virus-free,” points out Hansen, adding that there is still work to be done for all nursery owners to adopt these practices.
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