It's getting colder because it's getting warmer. Two more articles...

Ecuador banana production drops up to 40% due to cold weather

Banana growers in Ecuador say that cold weather has reduced the size and yield of the fruit, according to El Universo of Guayaquil.

Growers say that production has diminished 30% to 40% in the last two months. Exporters are offering them between US $1.40 and $1.70 per carton, when the official price is $5.40 per carton, further complicating the situation, the news website said.

n El Oro in the southwest, where banana production is centered, the temperature has reached an average of 68 degrees Fahrenheit at night.

This has caused a delay in the development of the fruit, according to Paúl González, president of the Agriculture Center of Machala, which brings together banana growers in the area.

González said that the reduction in production volume is obvious. “The fruit is delayed and does not have good quality,” he is quoted as saying. He added that the cold causes “stress” to the plant.

Link:
http://globalfreeze.wordpress.com/


Ecuador’s mango exports suffering from cold

November 25th, 2010

Ecuador’s mango export volume is half of where it was at the same point last year due to strong winds, cold, rain and a lack of sun, local daily Diario Expreso reported.

An approximate total of 5 million cartons of mangoes have been exported from Ecuador this year compared to some 10 million at the same time last year.

Strong winds in July also limited flowering of the plants, starting the chain of bad climate events that has the industry cutting expectations for this year.

“If we add (to the wind) the latest rains, the end result will be a significant drop in exports, especially for Haden and Tommy Atkins varieties, the most suseptable to changes of climate and temperatures,” Kyra Kalil, president of exporter Refin SA is quoted as saying.

Link:
http://www.freshfruitportal.com/2010/11/25/ecuador%E2%80%99s-mango-exports-suffering-from-cold/