Production in Patagonia’s Valle Medio is believed to have sustained significant damage
A severe hailstorm struck Patagonia’s Valle Medio on Sunday, sparking concern amongst the region’s cherry producers that they could face extensive losses. As reported in Mas Producción, the storm caught growers by surprise at a critical stage of the season, as around 60-70 per cent of the total harvest volume was still on the trees.
Growers are still assessing the damage but have warned that a significant portion of the exportable volume could be impacted. Extraberries, which has farms in Chimpay, said the hail “did a lot of damage to the unharvested fruit”.
The sustained, heavy rains that have fallen in recent days are a further cause for concern, since the accumulation of moisture heightens the risk of skin cracking.
Almost 80 per cent of Valle Medio’s cherry crop is destined for export. Last season, the area shipped more than 2,400 tonnes of the fruit, equivalent to just under one-third of Argentina’s total export volume. Projections for this year were similar or even slightly higher, due to the favourable early growing conditions. However, this storm is expected to have dented this early optimism.
The coming days will be crucial in assessing the true extent of the damage. Field visits will allow producers to assess how many hectares were affected and to what degree, whether the damage is widespread or concentrated in specific areas, and what percentage of the fruit can be salvaged.
