Chilean growers had to contend with freezing conditions over five days, and the low temperatures are likely to affect the crop of stone fruit that will hit U.S. shores this winter. While it's too early in the season to determine the extent of the damage, it's expected that the cold will have knocked something off what was expected to be a large cherry crop.“The information we received is that there has been a five-day freeze, and it's going to affect certain parts of the cherry and stone fruit crops,” said Steve Pearson with Bengard Marketing, which has a strong Chilean fruit import programme. “The worst of the freeze damage was out in Curico and some in Rancagua.”
The cherry season won't begin until late-October, at the earliest, and it's only as growers get closer to harvesting that they'll know the extent of the frost damage. Harvesting of apricots, peaches and plums takes place later in December. Though still unclear as to the extent, it's almost certain cold conditions will take a toll on yields.
“You're going to have some damage, and you're going to have some fruit that's not suitable for harvesting,” said Pearson. “We don't know, percentage-wise, how much can't be harvested, but there will be some effect. There's no way you can have a freeze of this magnitude without some type of decrease in volume.” Growers are likely to make adjustments, however, as adverse weather is not uncommon for Chile's stone fruit growers and shippers.
“Chile was looking at a bumper crop of cherries, but Mother Nature seems to affect the crop every year, be it with rain or some type of cold that diminishes the amount of fruit,” said Pearson. “There always seems to be less than was originally projected, so this year is no different.”
For more information:
Steve Pearson
Bengard Marketing
+1 310 605 5105