As was the case for most crops in South America, Peruvian pomegranates did not escape the impact of El Niño. "The harvest finished in late May with the prospect of an 8% increase compared to last year. Although any increase in production volumes is positive, the actual estimate at the start of the campaign was to reach 40%, but climate changes played a trick on us," affirms José Luis Gereda, director of Corporación APEISA.
"Opinions are divided, as many sources claim that the factor affecting the production was the high temperatures and others say it was the solar radiation. What we are certain about is that both factors took a toll on the quality while reducing the volumes of fruit suitable for export. To top this off, the harvest started earlier, so some importers predicted that the initial production rate would be maintained, but in reality, the campaign finished much earlier than expected. As regards the production volume, it is logical that the results were not the expected, and this is also the case for prices compared to the previous season," states Gereda.
"This campaign has taught us that, as a preventive measure, we need to improve the structure in the fields to protect the fruit and also delay the harvest in new fields to reduce the impact of sun damage. Fortunately, the markets we are targeting continue to grow and expand, including the North American market, so we remain optimistic when it comes to the fruit's future," concludes the representative of the Peruvian company.
For more information:
José Luis Gereda
Corporación APEISA
T: +51 998384497