Positive climate impact and post-harvest challenges for late-season mandarins in Peru

The climate continues to be a determining factor for Peruvian agro-export production, but this time positively. This year, late-season mandarins such as W. Murcott and Tango have matured exceptionally well due to favorable climatic conditions, according to a producer from Áncash.

The combination of an intense heatwave followed by a sudden cold spell has accelerated the color change of the fruits, achieving an intense red ideal for the North American market and offering better yields to producers.

However, this rapid maturation also presents post-harvest challenges that could complicate the campaign if not managed properly. Issues such as peel collapse, skin hypersensitivity causing friction marks, and the presence of the fungus Cladosporium are some of the disorders that could affect the industry. Peel collapse can deteriorate the fruit's appearance, making commercialization difficult.

Additionally, skin hypersensitivity can occur from harvest and needs to be controlled until after cooling. Cladosporium can develop under specific environmental conditions, further compromising post-harvest quality.

source: agraria.pe