The heavy hailstorm that hit the north of the Spanish province of Caceres, affecting several cherry-producing areas in the Jerte Valley, will not have a significant impact on the overall harvest for this year's campaign, which is set to start around the end of April.
This concerns an area of about 3,500 hectares across several municipalities, mainly in Tornavacas, Jerte, Cabezuela del Valle, Jaraíz, Garganta la Olla and Cuacos de Yuste, although the damages have been contained within some very specific areas. In general, between 5 and 10% of the flowers are estimated to have been lost due to the impact of hail during the blooming phase.
"Some farms will have been more strongly affected and will have fallen flowers and broken branches; however, we do not believe this event will have a major impact on the campaign as a whole," says Mónica Tierno, General Manager of the Association of Cooperatives of the Jerte Valley, which produces about 20 million kilos of cherries annually.
Also worth mentioning are the snowfalls in some higher altitude areas. "Although we always prefer to have mild temperatures, which are highly favorable for the fruit setting and growth phase, when it snows, we are at least reassured that there is no risk of frosts," says Mónica Tierno. "There are areas where the blooming phase has already ended."
The bitter taste left by last season's abundant rains, which ruined more than half of the harvest, is still fresh in our memories. "For now, aside from these minor setbacks, the prospects for the upcoming campaign remain very positive and we are hopeful they will be fulfilled," says the General Manager of the Association of Cooperatives of the Jerte Valley.
More information:
Mónica Tierno Díaz
Association of Cooperatives of the Jerte Valley
Ctra. Nacional 110, km 381
10614 – Valdastillas, Caceres, Spain
T: +34 927 471070
monicatierno@ac-vallejerte.es
www.ac-vallejerte.es