Opinion: Over 80% of raspberries become unfit for sale due to the heat waves.

Raspberry producers in Bulgaria are in a constant battle with the consequences of climate change. Extremely high temperatures and severe sunburn render up to over 80% of the raspberry crop unfit for sale. This is the warning from Bozhidar Petkov, chairman of the Bulgarian Association of Raspberry and Strawberry Producers (BAM-Y). "Global climate change is pushing raspberries back to the Balkans," Petkov stated some time ago. According to him, high temperatures and low air humidity are detrimental to the crop, which is extremely sensitive to such conditions. About three decades ago, a mass migration of raspberry plantations from the traditional Balkan regions to the plains of the country began. Farmers in Plovdiv, Pleven, Razgrad, and Targovishte expanded the areas with the hope that the plains would offer a better climate, soils, and irrigation opportunities. However, today the trend is reversing. Global warming and frequent extreme heatwaves are changing the conditions under ...