Chile hit by bad weather, estimated 30% loss on early varieties

07 Nov 2023
2345

Producers in Chile are facing the challenge of mitigating the recent damage to early cherry production caused by heavy rains in various regions of the country. According to Jorge Valenzuela, the president of the fruit producer federation Fedefruta, the impact of the rains has been particularly severe on early cherry varieties, resulting in losses ranging from 15% to 50% due to splitting. Fortunately, the later cherry varieties have not been affected.

The most significant damage has been reported in the Metropolitan and VII Regions, where a substantial decrease of at least 30-40% in fruit production has been observed. Valenzuela pointed out that the excessive moisture has saturated the soil, making it challenging to drain the affected farms due to the strain on the irrigation infrastructure.

In response to these challenges, Fedefruta is urging affected producers to apply fungicides and adhere strictly to phytosanitary programs to prevent further damage to their crops. They emphasize that soils have a limited capacity to absorb water, and some farms may face difficulties in addressing the waterlogged conditions.

Read the full article: Asiafruit


Cherry Times - All rights reserved

What to read next

Biotechnology of Prunus cerasus Marasca: Italy-Croatia research between Padua and Perugia

Processed

07 Aug 2025

A study by the Universities of Padua and Perugia explores the biotechnological potential of Prunus cerasus var. Marasca, a Croatian sour cherry used for Maraschino, highlighting flavanones such as naringenin and its promising nutraceutical industrial applications.

Portrait of a sweet cherry breeder: Gregorio Lopez-Ortega

Breeding

18 Jan 2024

n this article, José Quero García, member of the technical-scientific committee of Cherry Times, interviewed Gregorio Lopez-Ortega, breeder at the Chilean company Hortifrut.

In evidenza

Monitoring processing times is essential to ensure cherry quality

Post-harvest​

30 Oct 2026

Managing processing times means ensuring that fruit moves from harvesting to cooling with as few interruptions as possible. The aim is to reduce waiting, balance capacity across the different stages, prevent accumulation and identify bottlenecks before they compromise fruit condi

Smaller US crop raises concerns over cherry supply

Production

30 Oct 2026

Although lower production may put upward pressure on prices, the extent of any increases will depend on demand, existing supplies and supplier-specific market conditions.

Tag Popolari