Argentina

Argentina is the 8th largest country in the world. Germany fits into Argentina more than 7 times. The country is rich with regions of striking diversity - Andes Mountains, thorny scrubland and seasonal swamps of the Gran Chaco, the broad fertile plaints of the Pampa, the stark tableland of Patagonia, and a very long Atlantic coastline of 4.580 kilometers.
In 2000, its capital Buenos Aires was the 10th largest city in the world, with 12.4 million people. It is 50% larger than London!

Population estimates suggest that by 1810, the population of Argentina was 400,000. Thirty percent were native Indian peoples, 10% were black or mulatto, there was a large element of mestizos (mixed Indian and European), and a minority of whites. The Indians were absorbed, forced into labor, exterminated or driven away by the Spanish. The mestizos were absorbed. The blacks and mulattos disappeared, apparently also absorbed into the dominant population. The population became more homogenized.

Then, during the last part of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries, millions of European immigrants came to work in the expansive farmland of the interior or in the coastal cities. Almost half came from Italy and a third from Spain, with others from France, Poland, Russia and Germany. In 1869, foreign-born people made up 12% of the population; by 1914, it was 30%. Today, Argentina has a distinctly European cultural orientation, ethnicity, and racial profile.

Beef cattle are the country's most valuable export commodity. Argentinean beef is renown for its flavor and texture. The general impression that Argentinean cattle live on the Pampa and eat only grass is not correct. They are also fed sorghum, soybeans, corn, and alfalfa feed. Argentina is one of the world's major exporters of soybeans and wheat. More land is used to grow wheat than any other crop. Argentina is also one of the largest producers of wool and wine, most of the wine being consumed domestically. Sorghum and soybeans follow close behind, then grapes, table grapes, sugarcane, citrus fruit, and cotton.

Citrus has become more important (oranges, grapefruit, mandarins). The Negro River irrigation district of Patagonia has become one of Argentina's major fruit-producing regions, particularly of apples and pears.

Nature & More growers produce apples, pears and lemons, which you can purchase in Europe.