– Rain: Week 48 at the source was relatively dry and sunny through Thursday but that night the skies opened and we got 4 inches of rain in less than 6 hours! We managed to accumulate a total of 136.40mm (5.4 inches) by the end of the week, and some low-lying areas suffered some flooding during the weekend.
– Temperature: The air and soil temperatures decreased this week but still remained at a level of low risk of stress to plants. Minimum temperature reached 22°C (71.6°F) and the average 26.3°C (79.4°F) – 0.8°C lower than last week. The soil temperature reached 26.2°C (79.2°F) – 0.8°C lower than prior week due the higher precipitation. Relative humidity averaged 85.7%, while solar radiation was intense during the first part of the week.
– Observations: Even with a day of excessive rainfall and low solar radiation that could spark the plant stress that causes NDF, we estimate that the probability of natural flowering is still low and any possible events until now will be mild. Air and soil temperatures remain acceptable! We have made changes in harvest and packing methods to attempt to minimize the “burnt” leaf syndrome that has surfaced in recent weeks and we are taking all necessary precautions to minimize mold development that has plagued the industry specifically on longer voyages to the market. The favorable climate of November and timely agricultural practices in our farms will play a decisive role in guaranteeing good quality of our fruit for the balance of the year.