Turkey: Isolated frost hits cherry production
Frost has hit parts of a Turkish cherry growing region leading to predictions overall volumes will decline this season, according to a local press report.
According to newspaper Hurriyet, cherry production in Sultandagi in the district of Afyonkarahisar Province will be affected by the recent weather event.
Although it is not yet clear exactly how overall volumes will now stand, it is understood approximately 25% to 30% of the area's harvest will be affected.
The publications have reported how chairman of the Sultandagi Cherry Cooperative and mayor of the region, Osman Acar, made a statement to local press about cherry production as well as potential damage to apricot crops.
However, not all producers have been affected by the recent frost conditions as one grower from Alaam Tarim, also based in the Afyon region, tells www.freshfruitportal.com that everything is fine.
Turkey has a wide range of microclimates within its leading cherry producing regions, so adverse weather can often by very isolated.
"We heard that other places might be experiencing some problems because of the weather, but everything has been fine here and our production will be very good," says Kursad Alaam.
Meanwhile, early cherry varieties growing in Aragon, Spain, have been battered by heavy rains signaling a poor start to this year's campaign.
The Early Biggi variety is believed to be badly cracked and will not be suitable for marketing. The Burlat variety has also been affected, but to a much lesser extent.
The early cherry varieties are not necessarily the mainstay of Spanish cherry producers but can fetch higher prices.
According to Lacomarca.net, producers are much more optimistic about the rest of the varieties due to be harvested in the coming weeks and generally predict a good crop.
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