The next crop of peaches in Rio Grande do Sul may have losses of up to 40%, according to Embrapa Clima Temperado. In addition to adverse weather conditions, which caused the orchards bloom earlier, a syndrome has been causing the death of peach trees.
This year, the flowering came earlier, normally in September, flowering started in August. Late frosts did not compromise fruit set in Serra Gaúcha, the state's largest producer of table peaches. On the other hand, the fruit set is random, with different sizes reports abrafrutas.or
“The unevenness of fruit growth is widespread and out of the pattern that we are used to seeing. Even now these are already being harvested, the calibers are a little below expected, explains Enio Todeschini to Rural Canal.
Sizing is irregular and the full extent of the damage will not be known until later in the harvest.