Fruit growers in Bajo Aragon Caspe have started the campaign on the wrong foot. One of the early cherry varieties, the first to come into the market, has registered losses ranging between 70 and 80% due to the rains recorded in recent days.
The producer Oscar Barceló has described the damage caused by the heavy rainfall as "disastrous." The most affected variety has been the Early Bigi, which is the most difficult to cultivate. In many cases, and because of the size that the fruit had already reached, the vast majority of them have cracked and can no longer be marketed. Only the smallest ones have been saved. Other varieties, like the Burlat, have also been affected by the rain, although to a lesser extent.
Despite it not being the most common variety in the territory, the damage entails a high economic loss, since it is generally sold at a higher price. In any case, producers are more optimistic about the remaining varieties, which will start being harvested in the coming weeks, although it is still to early to make any estimation. The decline in the production of early cherries should not affect the work of seasonal labourers, who have already started arriving to Bajo Aragon Caspe for the harvest of this and other fruits in the coming months. As pointed out by Oscar Barceló, only those producers who are 100% devoted to the cultivation of early varieties, and who have lost almost their entire production, will have to reduce the workforce contracted.
All that remains now is to hope that the weather conditions will be good in the coming weeks, so that no issues are recorded with the later varieties.
Source: lacomarca.net
