Rain: Week 45 made an about face and brought to the farms a total precipitation of 115.6 mm (4,5 inches) with heavy rains that started during the middle of the week and persisted through the weekend.
Temperature: Air and soil temperatures remained at levels close to those of the prior week. The average minimum temperature reached 22.3°C (72.2 F) and the average weekly temperature was 26°C (78.9 F). Average soil temperature registered 26.3°C (79.3 F). Relative humidity remained stable at 87%. Solar radiation varied in intensity throughout the week with medium to high radiation during the first half of the week and followed by cloudy days through the weekend.
Observations: The first cold front of the season usually occurs in November and this year was no exception as our climate changed and brought lots of rain, dense cloud cover and a significant drop in air temperatures. We now face a challenge to sustain good quality and consistent volume. The most common effects of weather like this are brix, external and internal color and flavor of the fruit will decrease. We attempt to balance good levels of these quality variables against the adverse weather conditions should they persist. We will continue to monitor the fruit in the field and will be informing our customers of any changes in fruit quality.