BARI – The prized cherries of the Ferrovia in Puglia variety are also at risk of frost with the plants affected by the drop in night temperatures and the flowers that remain burnt by the cold.
This was reported by Coldiretti Puglia, with technicians in the field who are verifying the effects of the waves of frost on agricultural crops in the province of Bari in Santeramo, Rutigliano and Gioia del Colle, in the Taranto area in Valle d’Itria, in Martina Franca and Castellaneta, in the north of Bari and in Capitanata.
To protect the crops, night bonfires are even lit in Rutigliano with straw bales placed against the wind at the edges of the vineyard rows which are burned when the mercury starts to drop below 2 degrees, while in the apple fields of Martina Franca ‘shoots’ steam and smoke from wet straw with atomizers to raise temperatures which during the night drop to levels harmful to the flowers and buds of fruit trees.
Puglia is the largest producer of cherries in Italy, with its almost 32,000 tonnes – explains Coldiretti Puglia – 35% of Italian production and 62% of the invested surfaces equal to approximately 19,000 hectares of land and a turnover of approximately 22 million of Euro. The production of cherries is concentrated in the province of Bari which alone represents 96.4% of the regional production and 39% of the national total – adds Coldiretti Puglia – with its 47 thousand tonnes the province of Bari is the first Italian province for cherry production collecting 34% of national production.
The production of cherries is intended exclusively for fresh consumption and for this reason the sizes must be kept intact – Coldiretti Puglia insists – particularly consistent for the Ferrovia cherry, the compactness and the flavour, activities which require accuracy in the cultivation and processing phases. easily identifiable collection, so the human hand cannot be replaced by machines.
The sudden drop in temperatures with the arrival of frost – continues the regional Coldiretti – compromises the production of cherry, apricot, peach and almond trees but also potatoes, vegetables, wheat, when out of winter rest and, therefore, more sensitive to frost, also the vine and the olive tree. At risk – specifies Coldiretti Puglia – the wheat fields, already under stress due to the persistent drought that affected the crops during the winter.
During the winter rest the plants – concludes the regional Coldiretti – are able to withstand temperatures below zero, even tens of degrees, but become particularly sensitive, once awakened, in the flowering phase or after having issued the new leaves
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