Storm Kirk Devastates Northern Portugal’s Apple Harvest, Slashing Production by 30%

The strong winds brought by Storm Kirk, which hit the Iberian Peninsula on October 10th, have severely impacted apple production in northern Portugal, particularly in the regions of Armamar and Moimenta da Beira. The harvest campaign was already underway, with an initial production estimate of 70 thousand metric tons (mt). However, this estimate has dropped to 50 thousand mt following the storm. Over 65% of the apples have suffered damage, reducing their commercial value, and some trees were uprooted. The financial losses are estimated to be tens of millions of euros, making it impossible to match last year’s revenue of over USD 54.73 million from this region.