The fruit sector has been facing complications for years. In addition to the economic bad moments that it's had, the sector is losing arable land by the advance of other productive varieties and, fundamentally, by new real estate developments. In Neuquen, the sector loses 50 to 100 hectares a year. This data is based on the records that Senasa (National Health and Agricultural Food Quality Service) presented in its statistical yearbook. This work documents the numbers of producers, agricultural production, livestock, exports and hectares corresponding to each product. The most recent report, which records data for 2017, details how Neuquen loses 100 hectares of apple production each year, and 50 to 100 hectares of pears a year. Nor so long ago Neuquen and Rio Negro depended on agricultural production for their economic sustenance. Back then producers filled their bins with red delicious apples and pears. Now, there are fewer and fewer hectares dedicated to this productive activity. Apples and pears are the two most exported fruits in the country. Neuquen exports 254,464 tons of pear, mainly to Brazil, the United States, Canada, and, to a lesser extent, Peru. Apple exports amount to 71,449 tons, which are mainly sent to Brazil, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and Sweden. Although there are 216 apple producers with 3,223 hectares and 208 pear producers with 2,381 hectares, the productive area decreases by 100 hectares each year. Producers can change the type of fruit they grow, just like Talzauber, which began producing quinces in the area. It started as a simple family activity, but now they produce a variety of products, such as quince bars and quince jelly, which they already export to China. Other fruits also gained importance. However, their production isn't big enough to replace the productive decline of pears and apples in the area. Source - http://www.freshplaza.com