Fruit growers in Europe face unusual cold wave

The start of spring in Europe has been colder than expected and fruit growers are concerned about possible impacts on food supplies. Since mid-April, the Balkans have experienced below-average temperatures resulting in snow and ice, damaging harvests. In Croatia, for example, fruit was destroyed due to the sudden change in temperature. In Poland, frosts of -8ºC affected strawberry plantations. However, farmers in the Netherlands have adopted strategies such as spraying water on tree buds to protect them from the cold. This layer of ice offers some protection, keeping the temperature above freezing. In higher elevations, heavy snowfall has caused ...