The storm that hit western Valle Medio in Argentina on Sunday threatened the cherry harvest. Hail covered roughly 30 kilometers from Chelforó to near Chimpay, with a width of 3 to 4 kilometers, according to producers' reports. The storm moved south along Route 22 but did not affect areas directly on the riverbank.

The intense rainfall of up to 40 millimeters worsened the hail's impact. Sunrise then created the feared scenario: moisture on the fruit at maximum surface tension and rising temperatures, leading to cracks and leaving thousands of tons out of the market.

This season's cherry production had already decreased by about 25% due to issues with flowering and pollination. According to Aníbal Caminiti, manager of the Argentine Chamber of Integrated Cherry Producers (Capci), the storm's impact is estimated at around 50%, though he cautioned that evaluations of the farms are still ongoing. Most of the fruit had already been harvested, with about 25% remaining to be picked, mainly from late-ripening varieties.

Juan Accatino, a producer and former provincial minister, said this was a very serious problem, not only because the sector would have less fruit but also because the loss of fruit could affect around 2,000 workers during the harvest season, with many potentially losing their jobs sooner than expected.

The mayor of Chimpay, Claudio Sepúlveda, stated that harvests at locations such as Emelka, Moño Azul, and El Cañadón remain mostly normal. However, two farms managed by Extraberries sustained significant damage. The hail affected both the fruit and plants, damaging the bark at various heights. Videos illustrating the damage are now circulating on social media.

Accatino warned that some of this damage will have consequences next season, as the fruit darts were impacted, and producers will need to apply fungicides to prevent infections in the damaged wood. Caminiti noted that the rain also affected the Upper Valley of Río Negro and Neuquén. "We'll have a much better assessment of damages in one or two days. At this stage of the crop, the fruits can crack if there is rain followed by sunshine. As a result, the fruit no longer has a commercial value."

Source - https://www.freshplaza.com