July in Fresno experienced unprecedented temperatures, with meteorologist Christine Gregory confirming it as the hottest July on record, based on the National Weather Service's mean temperature calculations. The region, known for producing a significant portion of the nation's fresh-market table grapes, faced 26 days of temperatures soaring above 100 degrees, peaking at 114 degrees. This extreme heat resulted in notable challenges for the grape growing community, including sunburn and size issues with the grapes despite increased water application, as shared by local grower George Matoian.
The intense heat not only affected the grapes' quality by hindering their color, size, and sugar content but also led to reduced work hours for field workers to prevent heat-related illnesses. The high temperatures necessitated abbreviated workdays, starting early in the morning and ending before midday. Additionally, the heat impacted field packing operations and increased the risk of ground-level ozone, a harmful chemical produced by the interaction of sunlight, heat, and pollutants.
Despite the setbacks, Matoian remains hopeful that the heat has not caused long-term damage to the vines and anticipates a recovery in the coming weeks. Gregory warns that such extreme weather conditions could become more common, urging preparedness for similar events in the future.
Source: abc30.com