Fruit farmers worry about cold snap

Tuesday, 5 April 2022 06:30

Fruit farmers are lighting fires overnight to try to keep their crops from freezing. The recent cold snap has come after a warm spell, which started many trees to bud.

There’s a concern it could cause widespread destruction of this year’s stone fruit harvest – such as cherries, apricots and plums.

One farmer in canton Thurgau says there’s no way they can save their entire crop of five hectares of cherries – he’s having to focus on the two most productive hectares, covering them in foil.

Just a couple of degrees below zero is enough to kill a crop, says Beatrice Rüttiman from the Swiss Fruit Association.

But there are hopes for the coming few days - temperatures are expected to rise.

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