According to forecasts, Bierzo will produce one or one and half million kilos of Reineta apple in this campaign, i.e. nearly 50% less than in previous campaigns, stated Pablo Linares, technical director of Frutas de Calidad del Bierzo.
This drastic drop is mainly due to the spring frosts. In April, local producers even had to resort to lighting small fires around their plantations to alleviate low temperatures and counter frost.
However, the forecasts for the Conference pear have not changed and expectations are producers will harvest some 12 million kilos with no quality loss, Linares stated.
Fortunately, this year the sector has been able to anticipate the labor issues it faces in the harvests each season. "Some months ago, the Berciana Farmers' Association worked to recruit some 300 people that, together with the workers that the farmers already have, means the sector has the collection personnel it needs," the director stated.
Source: infobierzo.com