Portugal: 40% drop in cherry production

Lisbon: The Agricultural Cooperative of Alfândega da Fé, in the district of Bragança, has announced a forecast of a drop of around 40% in cherry production, due to the cold and rain felt during the months of the year.

“We foresee a drop in cherry production in Terra Quente Transmontana, which could vary between 30% and 40% of production. These declines are being seen in early varieties that begin to be harvested in mid-May”, the president of this agricultural structure, Luís Jerónimo, told Lusa.

“Due to adverse weather conditions, the flower ended up remaining on the tree itself, not giving way to the fruit”, he stressed.

Luís Jerónimo also added that, in mid-season and late-season cherry production, there will also be drops, but they cannot yet be quantified.

“For now, it is a little early to quantify these drops in cherry production in the later varieties in the territory of Alfândega da Fé, so that they can be quantified”, said the director.

With these constraints, the harvest forecast will be 15 to 20 tons in cherry production in the cooperative space, indicated Luís Jerónimo.

The Alfândega da Fé Agricultural Cooperative has a production area of 30 hectares of cherry groves.