The polar cold front which has affected citrus and avocado production in Chile during the last couple of weeks is also now causing problems in Argentina, southern Peru and Uruguay.
Snow and frosts have spread across the Argentinean region of Tucumán in particular, where daily temperatures have fallen below 7°C for eight hours straight, according to a report by local publication Contexto.
Tucumán experienced severe frosts during the early mornings of 13, 14, 19 and 20 July, the report said, with light frosts recorded on 21-22 July, as well as on 28 June.
Experts claim the production of early blueberries and potatoes (with total losses for some growers), strawberries, vegetables, as well as sugarcane and wheat are mostly affected, although damages are not thought to be as severe as first suggested.
Argentinean newspaper La Gaceta estimates that 25 per cent of both Tucumán’s annual 5,500-tonne blueberry crop and 20,000-tonne strawberry output have been lost.
Salvador Gallo, president of the Tucumán Blueberry Producers Association, told the publication that due to the severe frost those producers without protection systems had lost all of their production, adding that early fruit had also been lost.
According to a report by Portal Frutícola, few blueberry plantations in Tucumán are equipped with anti-frost systems due, principally, to a lack of money to invest in the technology and a lack of water, which is needed to control frost damage.
Tucumán is also Argentina’s biggest lemon-producing region and although groves have been covered with snow they are reported to have resisted the impact well.
Contexto said export-grade lemons which are in no condition to be packed will be sent to the processing industry.
“In that respect, the losses haven’t been so terrible, but still significant. Plus the lemon harvest is already in the well advanced stages,” the report added.
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