The unusually high temperatures and lack of precipitation this May in Latvia have added to the adverse effects that last year’s chilly and wet summer has had in the field of fruit growing, the leadership of the Latvian Orchardman Association, has warned.
The non-governmental organization unites around 400 hundred of the largest fruit and berry growers in the country.
Its Board Chairwoman Mara Rudzate explained: “Gardens dry out, but fruits fall from plants that are still able to withstand the drought, while the remaining fruits are small and are not expected to grow into quality products. Thus the industry is experiencing considerable loss of crops for the second year in a row”.
The organization stated that in all the regions of Latvia, most fruit plants had been suffering in spring and it estimated that compared to a usual season, this year 90% of the crops of cranberries, 40-50% of apples and pears, 50-80% of sweet cherry, 40% of northern highbush blueberry and 60% strawberry would be lost. (BNN/Business World Magazine)