The bad weather has affected vegetable yields

This is truly a bad year for Emilia-Romagna: first there was the drought, then the frost followed by the excessive rain and hail and, finally, the flood. "The bad weather that hit the heart of our region as far as the Riviera Romagnola caused serious damage to the agricultural sector," reads a Sipo note.…

Meteorologists predict soaring risk of flash droughts

Meteorologists from Oklahoma State University published a study which found that the risk of flash droughts, which can develop in the span of a few weeks, is set to rise in…

"Climate change is the new reality for Moroccan agriculture"

The agricultural season in Morocco is drawing to a close, with the last summer fruit calendars, mainly table grapes, and watermelons. Drought and poor weather conditions have set the tempo for the season and caused a sharp drop in crop yields, even those for which Morocco had achieved export records until…

"Water shortage by far this Spanish stone fruit season's biggest challenge""

In the Netherlands, Marni Fruit is currently transitioning from stone fruit from southern Spain to that from that country's north. "On Tuesday, we'll start getting supply from Zaragoza - peaches and then nectarines. Flat peaches and Platterinas will soon follow," says Erik-Jan Thur. He says this season's…

Lack of fruit and vegetables at the Lazio wholesale market

The consequences of the flood in Emilia Romagna and the swift temperature changes are causing a lack in the supply of fruit and vegetables, affecting prices and consumption habits.  The observatory of Centro Agroalimentare Roma, one of the leading European organizations for commercialization in the agrifood sector,…

UK and Europe “screaming for citrus” but still more rain for South Africa

Rain is expected to continue in the Western and Eastern Cape as a cutoff low moves over. Snow has fallen over the mountains of the Western and the Eastern Cape. "Given the recent rainfall and increased soil moisture over parts of the Western and Eastern Cape, sporadic heavy rainfall may enhance the…

Österreichische Hagelversicherung

Stone fruit, pome fruit and more affected in Styria

The first severe thunderstorms of this year caused agricultural damage in several regions of Austria on Tuesday, with hail, heavy rain and partly stormy winds. As Österreichische Hagelversicherung VVaG announced in the evening, storm cells, which moved in particular from the Waldviertel to the eastern…

The abundant rains have been good for the fields, but a concern for Valencian stone fruit, vegetables and citrus

The Spanish Levante, especially the Region of Murcia and the Region of Valencia, have been recording abundant rainfall after months of extreme drought. In general, and despite the fact that there have been floods in some towns, the producer organizations of both regions consider these recent rains good…

"It's been a terrible blow, but we're getting back on our feet."

Last week there were still 7 meters of water in the warehouse of Italy's Bagioni Technology, but yesterday much of it was gone. "We are almost ready to start the production again," says owner Aurenzo Bagioni, " in order to meet the orders of our Italian and foreign customers." This is what the courtyard of…

Bad weather causes damage in Sicily again

Winds exceeding 100 km/h hit eastern, northern, and central Sicily on May 19th and 20th. Greenhouses covered in (old) plastic films and polytunnels were damaged, as well as many blossoming citrus fruit groves and orchards in full production. The immediate effects were apricot and peach drops, as well as…

French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish peach and nectarine producers analyze forecasts for 2023

The peach and nectarine contact group, which is made up of government and sectoral organizations -including FEPEX- from the group's member countries (France, Italy, Spain, and…

Part of the potato and onion production is lost

We can say potatoes are lost in the areas hit by the flood in Emilia Romagna (Ravenna, Forlì-Cesena and Bologna provinces), as 24 hours under water are more than enough to destroy the crops. The situation is not much better when it comes to red onions, even though they are sturdier.  "At least 2000 hectares…

"Unfortunately, in my case, I must consider my fields as lost"

Although the rains of recent days have brought some relief, drought and the depletion of water reserves in the Axarquia and the Costa Tropical de Granada have been causing great difficulties to the tropical sector, as "there appear to be no viable short term solutions," says producer Francisco Garcia.…

Climate change might cause apple crisis in Himachal and Kashmir this year

Climate change is causing bees to die in Himachal Pradesh and the Kashmir Valley. This has led to major losses for apple growers in the two areas. While apple production is…

Can the drought prolong Europe's inflationary spiral?

The ECB has already stated that the inflation in the Eurozone could continue well into 2024 and that there could be another escalation of food prices due to the decrease in…

More than 7,000 km2 of flooded land in Emilia Romagna

"A first evaluation shows that at least 5,000 crop farms suffered damage from the floods in Emilia Romagna in recent days. The total damage amounts to billions," said Ettore Prandini, national president of the Italian trade association Coldiretti. Meteorologist Pierluigi Randi speaks of about 7,000 km2…

Italy: floods claim lives and cause enormous damage to farms

"We've lost a colleague, an acquaintance, a friend. The loss of life is the worst result of the catastrophe that struck Cesena and the regions of Emilia-Romagna and De Marche [in Italy] on May 16," Matteo Evangelisti, Biondi Giulio's manager, told FreshPlaza on Wednesday. This cultivation company has a…

Florida strawberry growers will have to change with the climate

According to University of Florida agricultural researchers working with the Environmental Defense Fund, if Florida's strawberry industry is going to survive climate change,…

"A lot of apricots lost due to bad weather conditions"

When the rain comes down in buckets and at the wrong time, much of an entire year's work can be lost just like that. It happened to Adriano Vena, a grower from Montalbano Jonico, a village in the southern Italian province of Matera. "I was hoping for a good season, not only because we escaped late frosts,…

Pakistan mango production to drop by 20 percent

Pakistani fruit and vegetable exporters anticipate a significant decline of around 20 percent in this year's mango yield. The nation has an annual capacity of approximately…

Cold weather is bad news for Polish soft fruit

The cold weather in Poland will have an impact on the soft fruit production, says Emilia Lewandowska, office manager for Polish fruit exporter Fruit-Group: “This year we have a cold spring in Poland. Low temperatures don’t favor appropriate bud development or pollination. During the end of April and the…

The drought has overwhelmed Tunisian producers

Four consecutive years of drought have gotten the better of Tunisian producers and forced them to abandon several crops in favor of others, also motivated by government measures in this direction. Selmi Mohameddhia, a Tunisian agronomist, comments on the situation. Selmi explains: "The least we can say…

Rain and hail is causing damage and no peace in Emilia Romagna

On Friday 12 May 2023 huge parts of Emilia Romagna were again jolted by excessive rainfall. And if that was not enough, hail also hit the area of Bologna, Forlì and Cesena, damaging vegetables and fruit trees not protected by nets. Damage caused by hail in Carpinello, in the province of Forlì-Cesena. Photo…

Ongoing rain in southern Italy risks compromising garlic quality

Things seem to be changing when it comes to garlic. "The situation is rather complicated in southern Italy due to the prolonged rain of past few weeks and to forecasts for the next few days. All of this humidity could compromise quality. We are now waiting for the next 15 days to try and assess how…

Call for flood review to prevent future risk

NSW Farmers is calling for a comprehensive, ongoing review of devastating flooding during La Nina to prevent future threats to people, property and livelihoods. Communities…

‘Climate change will impact strawberry production in Florida’

Florida farmers play a critical role in food production for the U.S., generating over $7 billion in crops, especially during the winter months. Florida’s specialty crops, like…

Recent rainfall saves the stone fruit season in Tunisia

The stone fruit season begins in Tunisia, with good volumes and quality. The industry was unaffected by the drought, says Mohamed Sadok, CEO of CarthagoExpo. "After a long period of drought, we have been blessed by recent rains, especially in the southern and central regions, which saved the stone fruit season.…

Spanish government to spend 2.2 bln euros combating impact drought

Sources say the Spanish government plans to spend 2.19 billion euros ($2.4 billion) on new water supplies, subsidies, and direct aid to farmers. The aid has become necessary…

A visit to the orchards damaged by the flood: video and photo gallery!

Maria and Antonio Gordini are crying bitter tears as they report how the flood of May 3rd 2023 swept away their orchards, damaged their home and destroyed their possessions. This happened to hundreds of families and entrepreneurs in Boncellino (Ravenna), where the Lamone river burst its banks at around…

Pakistan mango exports affected by climate change

Pakistan Fruit Exports have declined by an alarming 42 percent year-on-year (YoY) in the first 9 months of FY 2022-23 in dollar terms. Although the exports of the fruit have witnessed a 110% increase in volume between 2014 and 2021, its production has been heavily affected due to climate change and…

Increased Brazilian melon exports create tensions over water

In the Chapada do Apodi, a plateau that stretches across Rio Grande do Norte and neighbouring Ceará state, things began to change with the arrival of large melon producers in…

"We need to prioritize the use of the water available for perennial fruit crops"

Catalonia, with the province of Lleida at the head, is undoubtedly the largest apple-producing region in Spain. It accounted for 43.5% of the apples harvested nationwide in 2022 (a percentage that would rise to 51.8% if apples for cider production were not taken into account in the total), so the closure…

Possible watermelon shortage for 4th of July

While it’s a slower start for watermelons in Mexico due to the cool weather, supplies are increasing steadily. “We’re about 10 days behind but it’s steady and there’s great size and great quality,” says Dennis Peterson of Riverbend Fresh LLC. “On the earlier melons with the cooler weather, there was a…

Inconsistent supplies ahead from California following winter rains

Spring showers hitting California this week continue to add to the sporadic nature of the state’s vegetable production. “These showers are not big storms--those are behind us. However it’s been a tough spring with the weather and all those winter rains and that really hindered the industry’s ability to…

El Niño to hit 46 Filipino provinces

According to the Department of Agriculture of the Philippines, some of the country’s major crop producing regions will be hit by El Niño this year. U-Nichols Manalo, DA field…

Severe weather warnings remain in place across NZ

Heavy rains have hit Northland, Auckland and Coromandel in the weekend, with Kaikohe seeing 200 millimetres of rain in 24 hours. Severe weather warnings were earlier issued…

medFEL 2023: the drought is on everyone’s mind

The second day of medFEL 2023 was much calmer than the previous one, but one topic was present on everyone’s mind, raising concerns throughout the entire sector: the drought! The availability of water resources is a concern. The subject is not new but this year more than ever, the sector remains on alert.…

Frosts cause damage locally in Polish apple orchards, but majority is unaffected

The Polish apple season has had its challenges, but overall the season has been pretty good, Adam Malengiewicz, sales manager for Polish apple exporter Ewa-Bis, explains: “I think that the season, which will soon end, can be considered a successful one. We’ve exported an impressive number of containers.…

The frenzied search for wells to obtain irrigation water

Drought continues to be a problem in northern Italy, where rivers and reservoirs have reached minimum levels, already almost as bad as  last summer. The rainfall in winter and these first few spring months has been so low that irrigation cannot be assured. Applications for wells have increased again, but companies…

El Niño to return in 2023 following a three-year La Niña phase

The El Niño oceanographic phenomenon forecast to return in June 2023, following three years of La Niña. Dry weather conditions are expected in key cropping areas of Central America, Southern Africa and Far East Asia, while excessive rainfall and possible flooding are foreseen in Near East Asia and East…

Potatoes as a solution to counter climate-fueled hunger in Africa

Potatoes are one of the world’s most important food crops consumed by billions of people across the globe. They are becoming “an advantage crop” in the global food security…

Gamtoos vegetable farmers drive hundreds of kms daily to keep going during drought

Eight years of drought has had a “fatal impact” on vegetable production in the Eastern Cape’s Gamtoos Valley, says Noelie le Roux.“There are only two or three farmers left who plant vegetables in the Gamtoos,” he says. On his farm called Spes Bona (“we could do with some of that”, he remarks) vegetables…

Spain asks Brussels for emergency funds to combat drought

According to Spanish Agriculture Minister Luis Planas, Spain has asked Brussels for emergency funds to help the agricultural sector cope with the ongoing drought. In a letter,…

UK growers advised to 'plan now' to preserve water supply

UK experts have urged the nation’s growers to focus on preserving water now, anticipating future dry spells. At the most recent meeting of the National Drought Group (NDG),…

Seven years of drought catch up with Gamtoos citrus orchards

Despite modest rainfall every now and then, the Gamtoos Valley’s drought is, alas, still with farmers who have now experienced six years of water restrictions. Over that period citrus and vegetable farmers  have had to make do with 40% and then 20% of their usual water allocation. It is expected that the new…

Spain might experience record-breaking April heat of 40C this week

Spain might experience see record-breaking heat this April, as forecasters are predicting temperatures of up to 40C, beating the previous high of 37.4C. The record-breaking…

"After two years like this, our entire legacy is in jeopardy"

Just a few days ago, the Commission for the Guadalquivir Hydrographic Demarcation agreed to start the irrigation campaign with a discharge of 385 hm³ for the irrigation of crops under the General Regulation System, which, as detailed by the body itself, covers more than 345,000 hectares. This amount…

The simple steps that could save $163 billion in preventable waste each year

While today’s supply chain helps to keep the world moving, it is far from perfect, with almost 8% of stock perishing or being discarded at a cost of $163 billion annually.…

New apples from University of Maryland might counter changing climate and labor shortages

University of Maryland researchers have developed what may just be the perfect apples for American growers trying to adapt to a changing world. The two new apples, a yellow and a red one are heat-tolerant, blight-tolerant, low-maintenance, easy to harvest and not least, delicious-tasting. Both have been…

Uneven supplies and higher prices on lettuce likely until June

Very choppy until the first or second week in June. This is how Mark Vaughan of Fresh Avenue says the lettuce market will look until then. “It’s going to be an unsettled market with significant swings in supply. Supplies may improve for a day or two and then it will fall off again,” he says. There are a handful…

Last week's anticyclone caused frosts at night and damage in several Spanish regions

"The anticyclone in Spain during the last days, which is responsible for the high daytime temperatures during Easter, has also caused a significant drop in temperatures during…

Spain's agricultural sector requested authorities to create a Working Group on Drought

The lack of rainfall during spring is increasing the level of plant stress and producers are increasingly more concerned about crop development, especially in the south of the…

Geological service fears that France might face worse summer drought than 2022

According to French geological service BRGM, low groundwater levels are putting France on course for a worse summer drought than last year. The nation suffered its worst…

"Many producers have abandoned the summer campaign due to the lack of rain"

Placido Perez Chuecos, the president of COAG in Lorca, stated that the lack of rain was making producers rethink the summer campaign, which focuses mainly on watermelon and…

Zagora watermelon volumes to decrease by at least 25%

Due to restrictions on watermelon production in the Moroccan region of Zagora, imposed by the local government, watermelon volumes from this region will decline significantly this season. The decision is due to the depletion of the water table and the lack of rainfall in the region. The local government,…

How companies protect their crops from frost

There are those who use under-foliage irrigation to create a micro-climate and those who prefer over-foliage anti-frost systems, pellet or wood burners, or even burners towed by tractors. Producers try to find many ways to protect their crops, FreshPlaza has witnessed it in Emilis Romagna on April 6 2023…

Frost: French fruit growers remain vigilant

“Frost was announced so we remain vigilant,” explains Anthony Oboussier, fruit grower based in the Drôme department. “Last week, we struggled at night. One night, the alarm went off at 1.45 am and the temperature was below 1°C at that time. While preparing the equipment and warning the employees, we lit…

"Last night I had to light the paraffin candles and sprinklers at 3 o'clock in the morning"

Several points of the region of Calatayud have been affected by frosts. There have been frosts in the axis of the Jalón and in several of its tributaries, such as the Jiloca…

Egyptian producers brace for heat wave threatening crops this weekend

A sudden heat wave is happening in Egypt from Friday, April 7, until Monday, April 10, causing a rapid and intense increase in temperatures, reaching a 5-10 degrees difference, and alarming the producers of several crops. According to Mr. Hesham Tantawy, nutrition expert and technical support &…

Warmer temperatures and extra acreage leads to a 'glut' of tomatoes

There’s an oversupply of tomatoes right now. “It’s an oversupply that’s almost a glut,” said Bob Spencer of West Coast Tomato, LLC, noting it’s affecting all varieties of tomatoes. There are a few reasons why tomato volume is where it’s at right now. “There have been great yields from Mexico, and there…

Californian farmland soaked, leaving nowhere to plant tomatoes

Many Californian farm fields are soaking wet.  Asparagus farmers can't get into fields to harvest their produce. Tomato growers have greenhouses bursting with seedlings but it's…

Dutch fruit growers combat frost

In the Netherlands, the fickle weather is over, and the sun is back. But, there has been light nightly frost again, Weer.nl reports. For many fruit growers, that means there is work to be done to…

Importance of collective action for responsible water management underlined by Nature’s Pride

The UN water conference in New York has resulted in a Water Action Agenda with 700 commitments to tackle the global water crisis and promote sustainable water use globally. Nature’s Pride was actively involved in the United Nations conference and looks back on a valuable water summit. Coen van Iwaarden…

Climate change is one of the main concerns of Europe's fruit and vegetable regions

The Assembly of European Fruit and Vegetable Regions, AREFLH, representing 16 regions and 38 producer organizations from 10 European countries - including the Afrucat,…

Hope for California strawberry supply to stabilize by mid-May

Strawberry supplies are really right at the moment. Florida: “Florida is on a trend downward as it usually is this time of year. Volume is around where would expect it to be,” said Nick Wishnatzki of Wish Farms. California is weeks behind where it should be this time of year,” said Nick Wishnatzki. The state…

Climate problems and lack of labor affect Sicilian agriculture

The vegetable campaign is in full swing, productions are regular and demand is peaking. Yet not everything is going as it should be, as the segment has to deal with problems that used to be unimaginable up until a few years ago. FreshPlaza has talked about it with Vittorio Gona from Alba Bio. Vittorio…

California produce companies support communities impacted by flooding

Agriculture brands Taylor Farms and Driscoll's, headquartered in California's Salinas Valley and Pajaro, are calling for the support of these communities that are home to those who work to grow fresh, healthy produce for families across the United States. Recent floods and severe weather in these major…

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Florida's drought compared to California before and after storms

Florida is currently experiencing higher levels of drought compared to California, which has been able to break its drought with a series of moisture-laden atmospheric storms. Extreme drought is concentrated in the southwestern corner of Florida while severe drought plagues much of the rest of the state.…

LC Packaging signs EU Commission sustainable consumption pledge

LC Packaging CEO Lucas Lammers signed the European Commission Sustainable Consumption Pledge on behalf of the company during the Consumer Summit in Brussels, Belgium on Tuesday 28 March 2023. By taking the voluntary pledge, LC Packaging is committing to support sustainable consumption, beyond what is…

"The rain loosened the natural protective layer, making the grapes more vulnerable to progressive defects"

The unseasonal rains seem to have a large impact on the grape industry in India. Darshan Patil, Director and CEO of Fresh Survey Pvt. Ltd. has written a report, which he shared on LinkedIn. According to the report, 40 per cent of the grapes will be rejected due to the damages, where normally no more than…

California rains hold off avocado growers for now

Avocado volumes are ample currently compared to this time last year. California’s crop is delayed for now following the state’s significant and recent rains. “We anticipate increased production from California when the rain subsides and it will ramp up to 6-8 million lbs. weekly by the end of April,”…

The good and bad news for California growers after the rains

Short-term pain with some long-term gains. That's what California growers are facing following recent headline-making rains in key California growing regions such as the Salinas Valley. The big picture is, of course, that rain was desperately needed within the state following years of consecutive…

Nature's pride speaker at UN 2023 water conference

Nature's Pride is attending the UN Water Conference in New York as a speaker of the official programme this week. Following World Water Week in Stockholm and the European…

Supply gaps imminent for California spring vegetables following record rains

Gaps are on their way. That’s the conclusion following California’s continued rains and their effect on the spring row vegetable crops. “There have been short-term challenges such as getting products in and out of the field because it’s so wet. The bigger challenges will be in the next month or two when…

How record rainfall is impacting California’s strawberries

Watch and wait. That’s where California strawberry growers are at following late last week’s record rainfalls and subsequent flooding in the Salinas-Watsonville region. Now, growers are still waiting for the waters to recede before potential damage can be assessed. “It’s too early to tell the number of…

“We will work in the Himalayas with commercial varieties to look for genotypes more resistant to climate change”

Climate change is a reality that agriculture has to face. It is becoming increasingly evident and has a greater impact on production and economic performance. The international community has been concerned about the impact of global climate change for a long time and has taken steps to face it. In 1988…

Warm weather to impact fruit and vegetables supply in 2023

According to Markus Bobenhausen, senior buying director at REWE Group, unpredictable weather conditions will influence the procurement of fruit and vegetables in 2023.…

Strawberry fields flooded in California’s Central Coast communities

A broken levee is having a huge impact on California's farming communities in the Watsonville and Salinas areas. This region is estimated to grow about one-third of California's strawberries. A levee that ruptured in the nearby Pajaro river last Friday caused more than 8,000 people to evacuate and…

Climate change threatens cherry harvest in Manisa, Turkey

Many of Manisa's famous cherry trees remain barren and fruitless in the Aegean region due to inadequate precipitation. The cherry trees are also being hit hard by global…

Peruvian rain complicates end of ginger season

Heavy rains in Peru are challenging the wrap-up of the Peruvian ginger season. “There is little ginger underground and the ginger that remains is an old crop,” says Gino Neira, co-founder of Inkawald, a family-owned company based in Peru. “There are heavy rains, more than normal, due to climate change as…

California rains temporarily affect kumquat harvest

The atmospheric river rains that have hit California this week are, for the moment, halting the harvest of our kumquats. “Kumquats cannot be picked when it’s raining because…

South African market feels effects of flooded banana fields in Mozambique

Banana availability in South Africa has tightened as a result of the flooding in the southern parts of Mozambique last month. Up to 75% of the bananas sold at Gauteng’s municipal markets come from Mozambique and Eswatini. The destruction wrought by the inexhaustible cyclone Freddy was concentrated in the…

California’s atmospheric river storm strengthens almond markets

California almond growers continue to assess potential damage from the recent atmospheric rainstorm in the state. “It brought a lot of water and snow to the valley. With most of the rivers and creeks spilling, all the water alongside orchards was flooded,” says Bikram Hundal of Custom Almonds LLC. With…

UK should be prepared for second summer of water shortages

The UK should be prepared for a second summer of water shortages and some hosepipe bans, with a dry spring due to follow a dry winter, national advisers have warned. With…

A look at the widespread flooding in California's Salinas Valley

On Friday, March 10, the floor of the Salinas Valley received nearly three inches of rain, while as much as six inches fell in the mountains on both sides of the valley. Additional rains were forecast in the Salinas Valley on March 13 and 14. Markon Cooperative has taken to the fields for a first-hand…

“We hoped to harvest more than 400 tons of early potatoes, but I'll be surprised if we get to harvest 150 tons”

According to estimates, more than half of Mallorca's early potato crops were lost because of the passage of storm Juliette. "We hoped to harvest more than 400 tons of early…

More rain for California growers and shippers to manage

Ag growers and shippers in affected parts of California are taking stock following late last week and the weekend’s rains, and the ones still coming. The Central Coast particularly has seen significant rain and cooler-than-normal temperatures over the past several weeks, and another atmospheric river is…

Climate change causes drop in Kenyan potato production

Drought and erratic rainfall patterns in Nakuru caused by climate change have drastically affected potato production and food security in Molo Sub-County leaving most small…

How did California’s wet winter impact Florida strawberries?

The strong supplies of Florida strawberries could slow down soon. “It has been a good high-priced season until about when the Valentine’s Day pull ends around February 9-10. Then the brakes hit just as the volume comes up. However that happens every year, though it’s worse when California is in the mix,”…

"The climatic situation has now become more extreme and exports are increasingly determined by it"

The Catalan fruit sector is increasingly present in the international market, with Catalonia already exporting fruit to 114 countries around the world. Last year was marked by a difficult climate for sweet fruit, which accounts for the bulk of the Catalan production. This slowed the growth in the value…

"Climate change affects everyone and every crop except Egyptian citrus growers"

Egyptian citrus growers will continue their export campaign with the Valencia orange programs, amidst climate change that is troubling for the rest of the world but is favorable for Egyptian citrus. "Climate change has affected everyone and every crop, but its impact on citrus in Egypt has been favorable.…

North Carolina peach growers keep close eye on spring temperatures

North Carolina peach growers are on freeze-watch until the end of April. “We’re about 20 days ahead this year compared to last year which was quite a normal year. So we’re pretty much on the backside of the blooms now--the ground is warm and there’ve been some warm rains so there’s no stopping them,”…

Mozambique is under water as Freddy, oldest tropical storm ever, comes back

This week the World Meteorological Organization awarded tropical cyclone Freddy, with its "incredible and dangerous journey" that has been zigzagging between Madagascar and Mozambique for weeks now, the record for the longest-lasting tropical storm on record. Flood water rushing through a banana plantation…

Ecuador faced with longest La Niña phenomenon in 120 years

The 2020-2023 La Niña phenomenon has been the longest in the last 66 years, with a duration of 34 months. If it continues into April, as expected, it will be the longest in…

Half of California freed from drought due to rain and snow

California’s latest drought began in 2020 and no relief appeared in sight heading into this winter. Heavy rains and snowfall since late last year have freed half of California…

Jamaican Agriculture Ministry provides support to farmers affected by drought

The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Pearnel Charles Jr, intends to reassure farmers affected by drought that additional support is underway. He stated: “The…

Discounts for companies that want to conduct underground water exploration

The water emergency alarms, already mounting in February, are pointing to another waterless summer, especially in the northern regions of Italy, where not even the latest rains and snowfall seem to have improved the dramatic situation in reservoirs. Conducting underground water search operations in Côte d'Ivoire…

Climate crisis threatens UK fruit trees due to diseases that thrive in warm weather

As plant diseases that thrive in warm weather are becoming more common, fruit trees in the UK are under threat as a result of climate change. Every year, the Royal…

Soaring temperatures to decrease Indian fruit and vegetable production by 30%

With the temperatures on the rise and the subsequent crop decay, the production of fruits and vegetables is expected to fall up to 30 per cent this season. The early…

“There is a gap of premium mandarin varieties in November and December that we'll soon be able to start covering”

AMFRESH is one of the few family companies left in the sector. It has headquarters in both hemispheres and integrated companies dedicated to research and the production of varieties, such as Genesis Innovation Group for citrus fruits, pomegranates, kakis, and blueberries, as well as the SNFL program for…

England ‘only one hot spell away’ from another drought

The National Drought Group (NDG), which advises the government, has cautioned that Britain is only one hot spell away from falling back into drought conditions. The water…

Bad weather in early February heavily damaged greenhouses in Sicily

The effects of the cyclone that hit Sicily on February 8-9 will not be forgotten soon. The company owned by Daniele Carnemolla owns 13 thousand sq m in Scicli (RG), plus another 10 thousand square meters further away. Greenhouses in Scicli (RG) a few hours after the cyclone  "It was right here that an artificial…

Snow on apricot trees in Romagna

It does not happen everyday to see apricot trees in bloom covered in snow on the first of March. However, this is exactly what happened on the hills in the Ravenna and Bologna provinces. Snow on Wondercot apricot trees in Riolo Terme (Ravenna), 1 March 2023 (photo by the Vignoli company) "It snowed the whole morning and started…

Catalan producers face a 40% reduction in the use of water for agricultural purposes

The anti-drought restrictions announced and decreed by the Government will inevitably affect agriculture, as one of the measures is to reduce agricultural irrigation by 40%.…

"Perhaps the entire value chain should question how the supply has been managed at destination"

In recent days, temperatures have fallen again in southeastern Spain, after daytime temperatures had risen for just over a week since mid-January. Frosts are back and the recovery of the vegetable supply in the European markets is slowing down. "We are in February and it is normal to have cold days, even…