Spanish stonefruit producers are taking measures to combat the unseasonably high temperatures which are threatening the start of the 2015 harvest.
In Catalonia it has been the hottest May on record so far, with temperatures hitting 36.6oC in some parts of the region. In all, the authorities have put 33 provinces on alert, while Valencia on red alert with temperatures forecast to reach 42oC.
José Escoms, stonefruit specialist at Anecoop, said although it was too early to be concerned, producers should be vigilant for signs of damage, especially in early season varieties.
“Although there is talk of a heat wave in reality we’ve only seen one day of excessively high temperatures so there is no need for panic,” he told Fruitnet. “Our cooperative members are taking all the necessary measures to protect the fruit such as harvesting during the early hours, storing fruit in pre-cooled chambers and checking trees in order to discard any fruit that has been damaged.”
He pointed out that the group’s producers had overhauled their stonefruit varieties in favour of newer cultivars that are better able to withstand the heat.
Escoms said the quality of later varieties had not been affected although the hot spell could bring harvesting forward slightly.
