Page 10 - October freshletter_UK

8 FRESHLETTER

“THERE WILL BE MANY

SMALL-SIZED KIWIS THIS SEASON”

The overall production volume of Greek kiwis will be less 15-20%
this season, in comparison with last year, according to Mr. Ilias
Anastasiadis, Agronomist of Balakanakis Bros Company, who talks
about the small calibers of fruit, the early harvest of some kiwi
varieties and the course of the commercial season.

ILIAS ANASTASIADIS

AGRONOMIST OF
BALAKANAKIS BROS COMPANY

Mr. Anastasiadis, is there any good
news about the new season of kiwis
in Greece?
The first information we have talks
about less production in comparison with
last season (-15-20%). The weather has
affected the production volumes in some
areas and as the time of harvest comes our
estimations are clearer. wondering if the brix levels of kiwis will be
satisfying in mid October, when the harvest
Where are the damages more severe? is estimated to start. So as you can under-
There have been severe damages in Ar- stand the qauantities that are harvested
ta and Xrissoupoli of Kavala. Nevertheless, at the moment are “forbidden” to be mar-
we cannot be accurate about the size of There have been severe keted.
the damages, unless the harvest starts. damages in Arta
Closing the interview, I know it is too
Which is the main characteristic of the and Xrissoupoli of Kavala. soon, but what are your estimations
new kiwi season? about the commercial season of kiwis?
I can say without a doubt that the bad Nevertheless, we cannot Before I talk about the new commer-
weather during the period of blossoming be accurate about the size cial season, let me refer first to last sea-
had led to small calibers of fruit. son, which was not good after all. The pric-
of the damages, unless es reached low levels, despite the fact that
When does the harvest begin? producer prices were 0,40-0,45 euros/kilo. If
The harvest begins officially on 15th of the harvest starts the negative feeling of last season influenc-
October, but the early cuts are really in- es this season too, that is something that
tense this year. This is why many summer I cannot be aware of. The point is that the
fruits, such as peaches, did not have a sat- prices should be good for the consumers. It
isfying commercial course and their pro- has been proved in the past that the con-
ducers rush to move on to the next prod- sumer in Greece will not pay much money
uct of their cultivated areas (i.e. kiwis). The for kiwis. So if prices get high then kiwis will
thing is that especially this season we are be neglected by Greek consumers.

OCTOBER 2019