20% fewer grapes in Morocco

As soon as the grape season started in Morocco in May, growers expected a lower harvest due to water stress and too hot weather. Today, at the end of the season, they report that the damage has been greater than expected, but there has also been a certain degree of success in sales. "Due to the extremely high temperatures at the end of June/beginning of July, we could not meet our expectations. The grapes were lighter than expected and we lost a significant part of the harvest due to heat stress. As a grower it is always difficult to stop harvesting when there is still bunches hang on the vines, but it is often the right decision," says Elana Shabaily, saleswoman at Les Vergers du Soleil. “Quality problems due to long periods of high temperatures are a known factor. But the heat waves around harvest time are not the only reason for the volume loss this season. There was also the warm winter, which affected water availability,” she continues. The weather conditions have had an ...