Alert among Chilean fruit growers due to extreme heat wave
From
| 6 February 2023
Overview of fruits from Chile in the U.S. market, complemented by charts from Agronometrics. Original published on February 6, 2023.
Fruit producers linked to regional associations and Fedefruta are attentive in their properties to these days’ heat wave alert, as temperatures are expected to reach 38 degrees Celsius in the valleys of the central area, such as Maule, and that will exceed 40 degrees from Ñuble to the south, reaching 43 in Chillán.
Source: USDA Market News via Agronometrics.
(Agronometrics users can view this chart with live updates here)
Currently, producers are harvesting early and mid-season grapes in the central and northern areas, stone fruits in the Metro and O’Higgins region, and blueberries further south.
The president of Fedefruta, Jorge Valenzuela, said that, prior to peak temperatures, producers have implemented agronomic management measures, such as the use of protective meshes, sunscreens, and clays, to reduce evapotranspiration. “Frequencies and irrigation times are being monitored with great caution until this heatwave subsides,” he added.
“Work schedules are being adapted to avoid prevent people from being exposed to the day’s highest heat and radiation moments, prioritizing indoor work, and taking into consideration every risk-prevention measure,” he added.
The guild will keep everyone informed about the impact of this exceptional heat wave, which has already caused a red alert in O’Higgins, Nuble, and Araucania. The call to producers is to take extreme care to avoid tragedies and protect people’s health.
The News in Charts is a collection of stories from the industry complemented by charts from Agronometrics to help better tell their story.
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