Mexican grape season faces delays

Climate conditions have caused a delay to the start of the grape season that is expected to generate $425 million in the Sonora, Mexico region.

Marco Antonio Camou, president of the local association of table grape producers in Sonora, told El Sol De Hermosillo that he estimates a harvest of 29 million boxes, higher than the 25 million originally projected by the Mexican table grape growers association (AALPUM).

“Usually, the beginning of May is when the harvest starts, and it depends much on the weather”, he stated. “Lately, nights have been cold, days have been very warm, and this means that the grape ripening is delayed along with their harvest.”

Camou pointed out that high temperatures are required for the fruit clusters to ripen correctly with the precise amount of sugar, which is why harvests are expected to be delayed in some fields.

On the other hand, according to the forecast of the National Water Commission (Conagua) in Sonora, an increase in the maximum temperatures of the state is expected, the probability of exceeding 40 degrees Celsius.