Portugal's worst cherry season in 30 years

BY TPN/ LUSA

Cherry production in Portugal has seen its worst year in the last three decades with only about half the amount that was grown in 2015 because of the very wet spring, the Portuguese National Statistics Institute (INE) farming forecast said.

The steep fall in cherry output was because of a winter that was not as cold as usual and then the persistent rain that fell in the springtime, with May being the wettest in the last 22 years.

Overall, it is estimated that cherry production was around 1.4 tons per hectare, one of the lowest amounts in the last 30 years.

Peach production has also been badly affected by the weather and a 20% drop in output is expected.