According to the president of the Brazilian Association of Apple Producers (ABPM), the high temperatures in the weeks prior to the start of the apple campaign in Brazil will make the volume drop slightly this year.
Although it is difficult to predict the extent of the damage, Pierre Nicolas Peres said production would likely fall more than 10% as the sun has burnt the fruit.
"Analysis has shown that there will probably be a 15 to 20% decrease in the Royal Gala variety, which will reduce the total harvest in 9-12%," he said. "The Fuji variety wasn't affected, as its season starts a month later."
The World Association of Pears and Apples (WAPA) announce in mid-February, that Brazilian production would amount to 1,180,000 tons this year, compared to the 1,051,000 tons produced in 2013.
Peres noted that, even though that number will decline due to the recent inclement weather, Brazil's apple volume might not significantly deviate from the initial predictions if there are fewer hailstorms this year.
Peres, who is also the CEO of Pomagri, described how tough the three weeks prior to January 27, when the fruit harvest began, had been.
"The weather conditions were not good. There was a lack of rainfall, we had extreme temperatures that ranged between 22 and 35°C, and the nights were warm," he said.
"The warm temperatures have caused the fruit to have sunburn, and some fruit has even fallen from the trees due to the heat stress in some areas."
Quality prospects
After a difficult season last year, when a frost in the early flowering period burned the best flowers, WAPA predicted that Brazil's apple production would go back to the levels it reached in 2012. Peres stated that, even though the weather had not been perfect this season, most of the producers were looking forward to a good harvest.
"Sizes will range between small and medium, which is usual for Brazil," said Peres. "We will have clean fruits and good quality."
"The fruit this year is very crisp, and the flavour and the Brix are good. It seems that the quality of the fruit destined to be exported in controlled atmosphere, will be excellent if the fruit is harvested at the correct pressure."
Source: portalfruticola.com