The fruit guild has already begun to estimate the possible damage that the intense rains that affected the central and southern areas of Chile last weekend will have on the 2023/2024 season.

"We're still assessing damages, but it seems this climate front damaged 30% of the early fruit," stated Jorge Valenzuela, the president of Fedefruta.

The rains in the period of fruit growth and near the harvest period can cause splitting and give way to fungal diseases in the fruit, affecting its condition and quality. The early and mid-season varieties would be the most affected fruit. The Santina is one of the most affected varieties, with cracks in the fruit and even ‘half-moons’ -particles in the peduncular area- Valenzuela stated.

"The early varieties are the most compromised, depending on the area. In some places we have found up to 50% damage," Valenzuela added.

The union leader called on producers to focus on carrying out "a good harvest, to maintain quality," also calling for preventive and curative applications of fungicides to prevent possible diseases that may appear in the coming days. "We must keep the fruit healthy to maintain the quality of our product for consumers."

Chile expected to export 100 million boxes of cherries or more to China in this campaign. This goal, however, will be difficult to reach because of the weather conditions that have affected the orchards this year.

Source - https://www.freshplaza.com