Intense snowfall and frosts hit Chile’s III (Atacama) Region last weekend (30-31 July), according to an announcement from the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association (Asoex) and reported by SimFRUIT.
The unusual weather conditions have caused “important” damage to vineyards in the Copiapó Valley, which produce early table grapes for export, especially in Hornitos, Manflas and Iglesia Colorada.
Approximately 800-900ha are estimated to have been affected, Asoex said, with early evaluations pointing towards a loss of 1m cartons of production or 7 per cent of the Atacama region’s export volume.
The frost lasted for eight hours with temperatures falling to -3oC and -4oC and even as low as -7oC in some areas, according to Chile’s fresh fruit growers federation, Fedefruta.
The organisation says the situation is 'extremely serious' and 'very bad news' for the table grape industry in Chile's III Region given that suppliers there are already facing a unfavourable exchange rate as well as high costs.
Last season (2010/11), the affected zones exported 13.9m cartons of table grapes, the report said.
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