Another weather setback has been added to the burdens of stone fruit producers in the broader area of Tyrnavos, Greece, as two days of hailstorms occurred in late April, adding new damage to the already destroyed production from the March frost. "The March frost had already destroyed this year's production, but then came the hail. Although the hailstorms were not severe, they lasted for two days and hit various areas, causing new damage to the stone fruits," says Mr. Konstantinos Malakos, president of the Froutopigi Agricultural Cooperative from Platanoulia.
Tyrnavos is a major fruit-growing region, and according to the information provided by Mr. Malakos, the damage from various adverse weather conditions is almost universal: "In apricots, the damage is estimated to be 80-90% of the potential production, in cherries at 100%, and in plums at 80%. Only in peaches and nectarines is the damage limited to 40-50%."
The apricot harvest from Tyrnavos is expected to begin around May 15. "This year, we won't be able to feed Greece. So, there's no talk of exports. Prices will be high, but how high is something we'll have to wait to see once the harvest begins. Prices change day by day. Generally, the situation with stone fruits is chaotic. In some areas, you won't find any fruit on the trees, and in others, there will be just a few, depending on the varieties," comments the president of the Greek cooperative.
Another major product of Froutopigi is pears. Tyrnavos is the leading region for pear production in Greece, but even this fruit was not spared from the bad weather. "Pears have suffered significant damage. This year's winter did not provide favorable temperatures, and then came the blows from the frost and hail. Even in recent days, the temperature difference between day and night is harmful to the fruit. We have -1°C at night and 25-30°C during the day. The pears are still in the fruit drop phase, which is more intense than usual. Consequently, I estimate that the new production will be reduced by 50%. Of course, this does not hinder exports," concludes Mr. Malakos.
For more information:
Konstantinos Malakos
Froutopigi
Tel: +30 2410 831 479
Email: [email protected]