Brazil: Pests and diseases affect the end of the peach harvest in Rio Grande do Sul

According to the Informativo Conjuntural published by Emater/RS-Ascar, the peach harvest destined for industry in Rio Grande do Sul is nearing its end in the Pelotas region. In cities such as Pelotas, approximately 80% of the fruits have already been harvested. However, the season has faced significant challenges, such as the infestation of the corn weevil, which migrates from barns and unharvested crops to attack ripe fruits. In addition, brown rot, favored by the weather conditions during flowering, continues to affect production. Another problem identified was the reduction in the size of the fruits of medium and late cultivars. For the industrial harvest, the reference prices were set at R$2.50 per kilo for type I fruits (with a diameter above 53 mm) and R$2.20 for type II fruits. In the Passo Fundo region, the harvest of early varieties continues to advance, with approximately 40% of the production already sold. However, the high supply has ...