Just days after Valencian growers were hit by hailstorms, producers in another part of the eastern Spanish region have been affected by severe frosts. 

In a release, the Valencian Farmers Association (AVA-ASAJA) said temperatures hit as low at -5ºC last Thursday and Friday night, causing 'catastrophic effects' on agriculture in Los Serranos.

The organization said some 4,000 hectares of crops were damaged, with wine grapes, almonds, stonefruit and vegetables among the most severely affected.

It said the costs of the damages would likely be around €4 million (US$4.4 million).

The most affected areas of Los Serranos are Aras de los Olmos, Alpuente, La Yesa and Titaguas.

Last week Fresh Fruit Portal reported that hailstorms had hit around 10,000 hectares of crops in the Valencian region of Utiel-Requena.

"A few days ago Valencian farms unfortunately incurred multimillion euro losses in Utiel-Requena, and now we have been hit by another meteorological disaster in Los Serranos with unusual frosts for this time of the year," AVA-ASAJA president Cristóbal Aguado said.

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www.freshfruitportal.com