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Southern Australian Valencia crop lowest on record
Australia
Wednesday 14 November 2007
The Southern Australia Valencia orange crop has been downgraded to the lowest on record because of the drought. The crop is expected to produce around 45 to 48 thousand tons.
In comparison, the production rate back in the 1990s was in excess of 120 to 150 thousand tons.
It has also dwindled as growers changed varieties and moved to more profitable varieties.
Frosts have impacted on the tonnage, the fruit size is relatively small which is probably in direct relation to rainfall, or lack of rain and drought.
In a normal year quite a lot of fruit is harvested in the new year period from January to April, during which time they usually size up quite a bit, but with the water situation the way it is, growers are looking to either get fruit off the tree and turn patches off or simply get fruit off the tree to try and conserve water.
In comparison, the production rate back in the 1990s was in excess of 120 to 150 thousand tons.
It has also dwindled as growers changed varieties and moved to more profitable varieties.
Frosts have impacted on the tonnage, the fruit size is relatively small which is probably in direct relation to rainfall, or lack of rain and drought.
In a normal year quite a lot of fruit is harvested in the new year period from January to April, during which time they usually size up quite a bit, but with the water situation the way it is, growers are looking to either get fruit off the tree and turn patches off or simply get fruit off the tree to try and conserve water.
