The weather conditions in the Argentine Valles Templados of Jujuy have had a negative impact on this year's peach and nectarine campaign. "This season, a total of 130,000 boxes of approximately 10 kg of extra-early and early fruit were handled. The fruit volume is estimated to have fallen by 40% compared to previous years. This situation was caused by the lack of winter cold, which led to uneven vegetative growth and flowering, reduced fruit setting, misshapen and multiovulated flowers, little viable pollen, irregular fruit ripening, lower production and smaller fruit sizes." This is the information published in the Fruit and Vegetables newsletter of the INTA-CMCBA Convention No. 70.
This document explains that the region of the Valles Templados of Jujuy has 30,000 hectares with irrigation and differences in altitude ranging from 600 to 1,200 meters above sea level. The lower regions, especially that of El Carmen, with cities such as Perico, Monterrico and El Carmen, are where the early and extra-early peach and nectarine varieties are grown, with acreage totalling about 750 hectares.
The harvest period of these varieties goes from mid-September to mid-November. "The peach varieties planted are the Flordagem, Flordastar, Early Grande, Flordaking, Opedepe, Rojo Dos and Hermosillo. As for nectarines, there are varieties such as the Don Basilio, SunDollar, Don Tonco and Sunmist."
The harvest period of these varieties goes from mid-September to mid-November. "The peach varieties planted are the Flordagem, Flordastar, Early Grande, Flordaking, Opedepe, Rojo Dos and Hermosillo. As for nectarines, there are varieties such as the Don Basilio, SunDollar, Don Tonco and Sunmist."
Another 50 hectares of crops are located in the higher altitude areas, such as the regions of San Antonio and General Manuel Belgrano. "They grow varieties that require an average number of cold hours, namely the Caldessi, Fantasia and Aniversario INTA in the case of the nectarines and the June Gold, Rich lady, Royal Glory, Ruby Prince and Maria Bianca in the case of the peaches." This harvest takes place during November and December and the fruit is sold mainly in nearby markets.
In the news bulletin, it is explained that an important characteristic of the area is the alternation of low and high temperatures during the period when the fruit needs to accumulate cold hours; a situation that, depending on the intensity of the phenomenon, can cause more or less severe alterations in the different physiological processes of the plant.
In the news bulletin, it is explained that an important characteristic of the area is the alternation of low and high temperatures during the period when the fruit needs to accumulate cold hours; a situation that, depending on the intensity of the phenomenon, can cause more or less severe alterations in the different physiological processes of the plant.