The lemon industry in Tucumán, Argentina, has reportedly decided to suspend exports until evaluations into the true impact of recent frosts have been carried out on the region’s groves.
As a precautionary measure, harvesting of fruit for export is on hold, with picking only taking place for fruit destined for the processing industry.
“This decision has reduced activity at the packhouses to a minimum, and many are currently paralysed until fruit which meets export standards becomes available,” said Roberto Sánchez Loria, chairman of the Tucumán Citrus Association (ATC), in a statement.
The All Lemon Tested & Certified for Export group of quality certified Tucumán-based lemon growers is already implementing a special action plan to avoid frost-affected fruit ending up on the market.
According to ATC, many groves have been “seriously affected” following frosts, caused by a cold front which has covered most of South America in recent weeks.
“Already we’re seeing marks on the skin `of fruit`, soft fruit, ruptures of the oil glands and also the cells which contain juice, which makes the lemons unworthy to market and results in a fall in availability of fruit for fresh export but a small improvement in volume for processing,” Mr Sánchez Loria explained.
Local publication La Gaceta claims the blueberry industry in Tucumán has also been affected by the frosts.
According to the report, producers without frost-control irrigation systems have mainly suffered, while those with equipment were forced to run machinery all night on Thursday 7 July and for several hours on Friday morning until the temperature returned above 0oC.
