Strong winds that swept through provinces of Bologna, Modena and Ferrara have apparently caused extensive damage
Reports out of Italy suggest a large area of fruit production in Emilia-Romagna was struck by wind and thunderstorms earlier this week.
As relayed by Italiafruit citing various agencies and associations, the cost of damage to hundreds hectares of orchards and greenhouses is estimated to be millions of euros, with many summer crops destroyed in peak season.
Products affected are said to include melons, watermelons, apples, pears, plums, peaches, and nectarines.
Rai News reported that firefighters carried out more than 700 separate operations, with high winds in excess of 100km per hour causing major problems in Bologna, Modena and Ferrara from midday onwards on 15 July.
Cia Reggio Emilia said the storms felled entire rows of vineyards, destroyed “numerous” greenhouses, and ruined large swathes of open-field crops.
“Pear trees have been reported swept away from orchards in the Bologna area, and in the Ravenna area, vineyards and plum trees have been affected, along with fruit on the ground and warehouses damaged by the wind,” Italiafruit’s report stated.
