The producers from Peru have already begun anticipating a rebound for the 2024 harvest following an extremely difficult year last. Table grapes producer Alonso Puga Chief Executive Director of Proserla Alonso Puga, explains that in the previous year’s season of Peru the effects of weather were extremely detrimental to their harvest: “Our harvest was affected by the storm Yaku in the month of March in 2023. the changes in our climate that occurred during the winter (we saw a winter of low temperatures of 4 degrees below the historical average) resulted in grapes being impacted, because the cycle of production was less as some diseases and plagues were more aggressive, and harvest weights of the bunch were less than the historical averages.”

The author says that the hot winter led to a low bloom on crops like Mangoes as well as some varieties of blueberries. “These are all the result from the El Nino phenomena. We finished with less than 45% of the production of grapes. ”

Puga claims they harvested their harvest the harvest one month earlier than the previous year. “We completed our harvest on the 30th of November this year, which was one month later. The expectation was to collect 635,000 boxes. However, however we only harvested the 375,500 box mark. There are many growers affected and we’re working to tackle the issue.”

The Peruvian government wants for ways to support not only table grape growers but also all those involved in economics, which includes commerce, fishing, and agriculture across all sizes, including cooperative and small-scale businesses, with financial assistance. “Government is currently preparing financing options to help revive growers however it takes some time. They could be helpful to help in recovering every aspect of agriculture (growers as well as providers). In the meantime, we face 2024 year as a brand new one an event that has forced us to think and look at different methods of managing our vineyards. Our focus was on growing and generating our own bio-friendly bacteria like Bacillus Subtilis as well as Trichoderma sp. It is preferential to incorporate organic matter into our soil, rather than use non-organic fertilizers. In the present the vineyards look healthy and even the weather has helped thanks to the rainy season which finally did not happen.”

The rainy forecasts in Peru brought relief to a lot of farmers.

Manuel Yzaga Dibos, President of the Peru’s Board of Directors association for table grapes Provid advised that during the 2023-24 period, there certain news reports regarding Peru which increased the production “that was not responsible. What most likely happened is that the period was shorter, and it was two weeks sooner than in the last season. The appearance may suggest that we had a week when the production was increasing, however ultimately, we reduced by 10% overall and by -3 percent in northern Peru.”

The long-standing preparation process in the vineyards of table grapes continues each day, bringing an inch closer to the beginning of the new season. They also are hoping for the climate to turn improved so they can get a great season 2024. They also hope to be able to recover.

Much like many producer of table grapes, Puga remains positive: “We are in the field of Agriculture for the past 20 years, and we have had positive and negative certainly 2023 was not a good year, but the past has taught us terrible years such as 2010 and 2017 were tough years for us, too. But we have grown and are where we are today, having a newfound strength. All the rains expected is gone and the weather has become beneficial for us. The recovery is underway, and the 2024 forecast of rain has were changed, and we are seeing improvements in the area. The harvesting of avocados as well as Tahiti limes right now and our vines are thriving ahead to the next cut that will be in the month of May 2024. This is going to be a difficult season, but the good time is coming, and we’re determined to get it done.”

For further information, click here.

Alonso Puga

Proserla

Tel: +51 979 344 611

Email: apuga@proserla.com