Farmers in Passo Fundo, Brazil, are celebrating a positive watermelon harvest despite weather challenges. Mércio Michel, President of the Producer's Fair, reported excellent health and good weights for the watermelons. Dartanhã Luiz Vecchi, Deputy Regional Manager of Emater/RS-Ascar, also highlighted the good quality of other fruits including peaches, plums, and apples.
Vecchi noted that the high rainfall led to increased production costs due to the need for more frequent pest control. This increased cost is being passed onto consumers, resulting in higher prices for some fruits. Despite these challenges, the quality of the fruit remains high.
In Cacique Doble, grape producer Jair Ferreira reported a strong grape harvest. Despite some grapes suffering from the rain, Ferreira managed to overcome this with the application of pesticides. The protected grapes even produced more than in previous years due to the rain.
Source: abrafrutas.org