Chilean fruit size will be smaller than usual this season due to low day-time temperatures and cloud coverage, according to local press reports.

Damage due to the heaviest rains in 134 years has not been as severe as first feared, according to Chilean weekly Revista del Campo. It reported that there are 30 per cent losses in cherry production although other fruit trees escaped almost unscathed.

Some growers have invested in plastic covers for their cherry production having suffered rainfall at this point in the season last year.

Growers in early production areas suffered the most damage to their crops and between 30 and 70 per cent is estimated to have been lost in the Metropolitan and VI regions compared to 15 per cent in region VII where most Chilean cherry production is sited.

Meanwhile, although there was no significant rain damage to grape, nectarine and peach crops, producers are nevertheless concerned that the low spring-time temperatures and lack of light levels caused insufficient cell division in fruit during development, which would lead to smaller fruit sizing.

Grape exporters are, however, forecasting the biggest grape production season in Chilean history. Early regions are estimating volumes far in excess of last year, which in itself was a record, and the industry expects to top the 91.7 million carton crop of 2004.

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