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

07 Nov 2023
2337

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

German study reveals how to increase fruit set through synergy between mason bees and honeybees

Tech management

17 Aug 2023

This study examined the relationship between stocking rates and honeybee and mason bee abundance in 17 sweet cherry orchards in central Germany. Also, an experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of mason bees and honeybees on fruit set of sweet cherry trees.

Drosophila suzukii in France: winter fruits reveal new control strategies

Crop protection

12 Sep 2025

A study in France explores the effects of ornamental winter fruits on Drosophila suzukii, an invasive pest damaging soft fruit crops. Researchers tested thermal regimes to evaluate survival, reproduction, and potential strategies for biological control and prevention.

In evidenza

Albanian home-grown cherries are targeting high-end European markets

Specialties

26 Oct 2026

Godolesh, near Elbasan in Albania, is a distinctive cherry-growing area. Its native variety, annual output of around 700 tonnes and sustainable practices support ambitions to reach European markets, from Italy to Germany, building on quality, origin and tradition.

Frequent rainfall is putting Chilean cherry production and the cherry market at risk

Production

23 Oct 2026

Spring rains in Chile have split early cherries in the north, while damage in O’Higgins, which accounts for over 80% of production, remains marginal so far. Growers are monitoring fungal disease, saturated soils and potential impacts on Chile’s 2026/27 cherry crop.

Tag Popolari