I have to admit
Last edited Thu Mar 19, 2020, 07:49 PM - Edit history (1)
I dont check in here very often but was out walking through my grove today and noticing that my crop this year will not be as productive as last year.
I grow Lychees and Longans on 4.5 acres in South Florida. Lychees are a dicey proposition...they require a "chilling period" where the temperature to drop into the low 50's during the post harvest period in order to "push" the tree into flowering and then setting fruit.
Our production over the last decade has declined and we Lychee growers are convinced that the decreased production is directly related to global warming/climate change.
The more immediate problem though is going to be what are the prospects for my crop this year? In theory the lower amount should result in me getting a higher price for my crop...
The problem with that is even if there is a demand for the crop there may well be no way to get it to market.
Lychee picking is a manual process. It cannot be mechanized and requires skilled pickers, experienced in identifying and picking those fruit that are ready to pick and those that need to be left to mature for a few more days.
Sometimes it can take up to ten days to pick the grove.
Normally I contract with an individual who buys my crop and provides his own pickers and packers to get my crop into the hands of his customers.
As it stands, the population that he relies on to pick, pack and deliver his product are under a lot of pressure.
The distance between my product and the consumer is getting wider...and it doesnt look good.
What I grow isn't critical to your health...and God knows the chances are pretty good you've not consumed it but it has been a sobering day.
Personally, I'm at a stage in my life where it isn't going to be critical if this crop doesnt make it to market, but I worry about those who it will affect.
Anybody else in this situation?
PS...Think I'll cross-party this in GD.
Good luck everyone.
https://www.growables.org/information/TropicalFruit/LycheesLongansUSDAARS.htm
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