Sector leaders in Uruguay are forecasting a recovery in citrus volumes for the upcoming season, following last year’s frosts, while apple growers fear 20 per cent losses to their export crops.
Those citrus plantations that were not badly affected by the frosts and cold temperatures that struck Uruguay between May and August are expecting a crop some 15-20 per cent up on last season. Growers have reported even and timely flowering, and good fruit set with adequate rainfall. But delays in spraying programmes and thinning caused by the rain could affect fruit quality, reports in the Uruguayan press warn.
Despite the effects of the frost, Uruguay still managed to produce 25 per cent more citrus than in 2006 at 227,500 tonnes, but exports only climbed by seven per cent.
Meanwhile, apple growers are looking at a crop reduced to the tune of some 20 per cent, or 10,000-15,000t of fruit.
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