Latest news with #FreshPlaza
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Farmers devastated as severe hailstorms destroy their livelihoods: 'We have even needed to cut down 30,000 trees'
A hailstorm in Spain devastated the stone fruit crops. According to Fresh Plaza, the hailstorm hit the Spanish Region of Murcia in early May. Yéchar in the Vega Media del Segura was one of the worst hit. "We have lost all our citrus and stone fruit," Viveros Bombonfruit manager Jesús García said. "We have even needed to cut down 30,000 trees because the wood was rotten." He added, "We won't be able to produce stone fruit in Yéchar again at least until 2027." Warming temperatures are also affecting the crops, particularly apricot trees. Some 40% of these trees have been uprooted. They require cold winters to rest, but the winters have gotten warmer and continue to do so. Without the rest period, they can't produce fruit. "Peaches, nectarines, and flat peaches tolerate the lack of cold well, but apricots are more sensitive," García said. All of these weather conditions are contributing to increased fruit prices. On the other hand, when fruit is imported from Turkey, it drives prices down because it's cheaper to produce there. While cheaper costs are good for consumers, it's not good for the farmers who produce the fruit and whose livelihoods depend on that money. Changing weather conditions, including warming temperatures, are not just affecting crops in Spain; they're also threatening the global food supply. Even potato farmers in Pennsylvania are struggling. The crop requires cool nights, but the farmers haven't had many of those. Polluting gases cause the planet to warm, and reliance on dirty energy that produces these gases contributes to this warming. Society must decrease its reliance on industries that produce polluting gases to prevent further devastation to the global food supply. What should be done to make home solar panels cheaper? More tax incentives Lower installation costs Better loan options They're cheap enough already Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "Everything is accelerating, and winter is getting warmer. We have to get ready for the changes that are coming," García said. Crop losses as a result of changing weather patterns are a complex problem. It underscores the importance of exploring critical climate issues to gain a better understanding of how to combat them. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Farmers devastated as extreme weather shrinks prized crop by 40%: 'Becoming a growing challenge'
This country could lose millions of dollars in exports to triple-digit temperatures. Farmers across Pakistan are reporting major crop losses due to extreme weather effects exacerbated by increasingly warming temperatures. In April, temperatures across "Pakistan rose to 118 degrees Fahrenheit … and are forecast to climb through Wednesday, possibly nearing the global April record of 122 degrees Fahrenheit," according to The Washington Post. Not only do prolonged heat waves pose a severe danger to humans, but they also have a devastating effect on agriculture. Mangoes, a large export for Pakistan, suffered greatly throughout the latest heat wave. Rising temperatures stress the mango trees, halting flowering or causing the tree to prematurely drop fruit, causing a "potential 40% reduction in the size of Multan's mangoes," according to FreshPlaza. Scientific Officer Abid Hameed Khan told FreshPlaza that extreme "temperature fluctuations were becoming a growing challenge." These aren't the only farmers who have seen significant losses due to climate change. Farmers across the globe — Italy, India, the U.K., and Ukraine — are losing massive amounts of food due to scalding heatwaves, flash floods, and severe droughts. It's a concerning trend. If the amount of our planet-warming pollution continues to grow, we could see huge losses of wheat, corn, rice, fruits and vegetables, and even livestock. With billions of mouths to feed, this severe agricultural loss means billions of people could be at risk of malnutrition and starvation. In Pakistan, a new government initiative could help protect the mango trees. One researcher, Dr. Rehman, stressed the importance of growing smaller mango trees to reduce losses. What do you worry about most during a power outage? The temperature in my home The food in my fridge Not having any light Something else Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "This modern orchard management system aims to enhance productivity by introducing shorter mango trees that are easier to maintain and more resilient to climate stresses," Dr. Rehman explained to FreshPlaza. Globally, researchers are working to boost crop resistance and improve resource management. These researchers discovered that zinc oxide makes rice more tolerant of warmer temperatures. Another group of scientists is trying to transplant a "cold-coping" gene to cold-intolerant plants, like corn. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Farmers devastated after losing over half of crops to unrelenting conditions: 'This is no exaggeration'
Italy's cherry crop has been devastated, with farmers reporting up to 100% losses after months of extreme weather. As FreshPlaza reported, cherry production in southeastern Bari has collapsed, with growers estimating a 70-100% harvest loss. Key varieties such as Ferrovia, Bigarreau, and Georgia were hit hard by frosts, hail, and heavy rains in March, April, and May. "We are talking about a complete loss of production in some cold areas," producer Nicola Coniglio told FreshPlaza. "This is no exaggeration: It really is a natural disaster that has affected all varieties throughout the Puglia region." The effects are being felt across the supply chain. At some markets, cherries are selling for up to €23.30 per kilogram ($27), while producers are earning as little as €9 ($10). To make matters worse, much of the surviving fruit has defects, which hits producer profits even more. Cherries are sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity. With the planet warming because of human-generated pollution, these kinds of extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe, putting crops everywhere at risk. When crop yields are affected, farmers' livelihoods become at risk, supply chains suffer, and grocery prices go up for everyone. For low-income households that already spend a large chunk of income on groceries, this hits especially hard. Farmers say this isn't a one-off: Cherry yields have been shrinking for three years. Production issues are making fresh fruit a luxury for many and threatening small farms that struggle to afford expensive protections for their crops. We've seen similar problems across the globe, with droughts threatening crops all over, including in Turkey, South America, and Asia. Growers are urging the government to declare a state of emergency and implement stricter checks on imported cherries to protect local producers. But it's not just Italy that's experiencing dwindling yields — one account manager said there was a drop in production in Greece of around 30%. In the long term, producers need support to modernize orchards and develop more climate-resilient crops. What would you do if natural disasters were threatening your home? Move somewhere else Reinforce my home Nothing This is happening already Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Researchers are working on climate-resilient crops and smarter agricultural techniques to protect harvests. Meanwhile, consumers can support these efforts by choosing seasonal, local produce — which has the added benefit of cutting down on pollution from food transport. Ultimately, it comes down to tackling the root of the problem: harmful pollution overheating the planet. Individuals can help by learning more about critical climate issues and taking local action. If you have a green thumb, you can even grow your own food to cut down on grocery costs while also benefiting the community and ecosystem. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
The South African
22-06-2025
- Business
- The South African
South African dried fruit is 'unrivalled globally'
De Wet Burger of Kambrosig, a dried fruit producer based in Wellington, Western Cape, believes South African dried fruit is the best in the world. South Africa also speicialises in producing dried fruit sweets – a uniquely South African delicacy which Burger says he's never seen anywhere else. 'When travelling abroad, I've never seen any dried fruit that I would consider buying,' Burger told FreshPlaza . 'Being accustomed to the standard of dried fruit we produce in South Africa, both in terms of eating quality and appearance, I believe it is unrivalled in the world.' Kambrosig is a small-scale supplier that prides itself on freshness. The company never has more than a week's supply of packed and ready-to-send dried fruit and fruit sweets. 'We keep the product as fresh as possible before sending it out to clients,' Burger noted. 'We keep the dried fruit in our cold room and package it weekly. Of the dried fruit sweets, we make a fresh batch every week.' Kambrosig's fruit comes from a dedicated group of stone and pome fruit farmers. Most is sun-dried for cost-efficiency, while apples and peeled peaches are dried in tunnels. The dried fruit with the highest demand is dried prunes, while dried apricots are facing supply challenges. Due to the drought in regions around Laingsburg, Ladysmith, and Montagu, many apricot orchards have been lost. Rising export demand and drying costs mean fewer farmers are choosing to dry their crops. 'We have just sold out our very last dried apricots,' Burger added. 'I was talking to one of our supplying apricot farmers, and he said he was only able to supply his clients with 20% to 30% of their fresh apricot orders.' Peach and pear supplies on the other hand are more stable. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Supply of popular fruit plummets as severe frost devastates crops: 'Catastrophic losses'
A severe frost in Turkey has disrupted the global apricot market, and the effects will linger for over a year. The extreme weather, including temperatures of minus 15 degrees Celsius (5 degrees Fahrenheit) throughout the 36 provinces, affected current and future crops of the stone fruit, Fresh Plaza reported. "Malatya Province, which produces 85% of Turkey's apricots, suffered catastrophic losses, with production expected to drop from 750,000 tons to just 10,000 tons in 2025," the outlet noted, adding that prices will rise in Europe, the United States, the Middle East, and Central Asia. On the other hand, producers in Spain, Uzbekistan, and Italy could benefit from increased demand. As Fresh Plaza pointed out, extreme weather has impacted harvests around the world. Apricot growers in Moldova, Bulgaria, and Greece are part of that trend of significant losses, while Ghana's cashews, Pennsylvania potatoes, and fruits and vegetables in Australia have also been affected. These are just some of the consequences of rising global temperatures caused by the burning of dirty fuels for energy. This produces heat-trapping gases that envelop the planet like a blanket, push sea levels higher, and make extreme weather events more frequent and severe. That weather includes heat waves, droughts, rains, and floods. Weather whiplash is another concern, as extreme swings imperil communities, infrastructure, and property in addition to farmers' crops and livelihoods. Because extreme weather is caused by human actions, it can be reversed by human actions. The goal is to reduce the production of planet-warming pollution. Governments and companies are working to do so, and scientists are engineering crops to withstand increasingly severe weather in the interim. Lettuce, for example, can be treated to better survive freezing temperatures. Small steps by individuals help, too. Consider upgrading your grass yard to a native plant lawn or installing a heat pump or solar panels. Instead of driving, you can take public transit, bike, or walk. As a bonus, all these behaviors will help you save money. Do you think America is in a housing crisis? Definitely Not sure No way Only in some cities Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
