Argentina expects to send its first ever lemon export to the Indian market next year.

Export protocols were signed by Argentinean Minister of Agriculture Luis Miguel Etchevere during a trade mission opening up the fast-growing lemon market to the world's largest exporter.

“Argentina is the leading exporter of lemon in the world, and lemons are an important part of the regional economy in the northwest of the country,” he said.

Jose Carbonell, president of the industry body Federcitrus, said: "We are very interested in very large markets such as India." Carbonell expects that the first export of lemon will take place next season, and stressed that Argentina will have to make a lot of efforts to gain a foothold in the market.

“India is not a country in which there is a tradition of mass consumption of lemon, but worldwide lemons are beginning to be used in different geographical regions and for different purposes with food,” he said.

According to him, Indian consumers would be much more accustomed to a sort of lime similar to Tahiti. But he added that younger generations are increasingly using more Mediterranean ingredients in their food, such as olive oil and lemon.

The recently launched Frutas de Argentina brand will help promote Argentine lemons in the Indian market.

The total export of Argentinean lemon last year reached 280 thousand tons. To date, this season they have reached 190 thousand tons and are expected to work until August.