Official Status for the Cereza del Valle de Los Antiguos – Patagonia

By Estudio Chaloupka

The cherry orchards of Los Antiguos, nestled deep in the Patagonian landscape, have long been known for producing fruit of exceptional quality. Now, that reputation has received official backing. On April 9, 2025, the Argentine government formally recognized the Designation of Origin (DO) "Cereza del Valle de Los Antiguos – Patagonia", marking a milestone for the region’s producers and securing the identity of one of the country’s most distinctive agricultural products.

Published in the Official Gazette, the resolution by the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries—part of the Ministry of Economy—gives legal weight to what many in the cherry industry already knew: the cherries of Los Antiguos are unlike any other. This recognition is the result of over a decade of collaboration between local growers, institutions, and national agencies. Leading the push was the Asociación Civil Consejo de la DO, supported by the provincial government of Santa Cruz and the National Directorate of Food and Regional Development.

Scientific backing came from the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA), whose Rural Extension Agency in Los Antiguos provided detailed studies on the fruit’s quality. Their work highlighted how unique geography, climate, and farming practices combine to produce cherries with color, firmness, and flavor that set them apart both nationally and globally. INTA also played a key role in organizing the documentation needed for the DO, aligning environmental, historical, and social data into a unified application.

"This cherry already had a worldwide reputation for its quality and distinct characteristics," said Dr. Liliana San Martino of INTA. "The DO reinforces that recognition and provides legal protection against misuse of the name." She noted that the DO not only offers identity protection, but also practical benefits, such as a 0.5% export rebate and safeguards against the unauthorized use of the Los Antiguos name by outside sellers.

Los Antiguos has cultivated cherries for more than 50 years, gaining international recognition and even earning the title of Argentina’s National Capital of the Cherry. Since the 1980s, it has hosted the National Cherry Festival, a celebration of the fruit and the community that grows it. Yet even with its longstanding acclaim, formal certification remained elusive—until now.

The journey toward official recognition began back in 2011, during technical workshops on origin certifications. Momentum grew in 2017 when local producers joined the national initiative "Cerezas Sello Argentino," prompting the cooperative El Oasis and the company Southerncrops by Río Alara to seek INTA’s support in formalizing the DO. With help from the local municipality, city council, CAP, MINPRO, and SENASA, the final proposal took shape.

The designation falls under Law No. 25.380 (as amended by Law No. 25.966), which regulates geographical indications and designations of origin for Argentine food and agricultural products. In November 2023, the National Advisory Commission on Geographical Indications recommended its approval. Five months later, that recommendation became reality.