Fruit growers in northern Chile are keeping a worried eye on their crops as a drought continues in the region, according to local news website La Nacion.

In February, producers in the Coquimbo region are likely to see how the drought has affected grapes, avocados, clementines, lemons and oranges, according to Antonio Walker, president of fruit growers association Fedefruta, the website said. Chile declared an agricultural emergency in the region in January.

The lack of water negatively affects the size, weight and quality of fruit, Walker said, according to the website. “There is always an effect of less supply of fruit for export, but the prices in the internal market should not show too much change not only because more fruit will be left but also because there is a problem with quality,” Walker is quoted as saying.

The drought could also drive up prices for vegetables such as lettuce and celery starting in March, the report said.

Photo: wikipedia.org

Source: www.freshfruitportal.com