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Rain: The same precipitation pattern continued into week 09 at the source with cumulative rainfall for the week of 73.6 mm (almost 3 inches), concentrated towards the end of the week with very heavy downpours.

Temperature: The minimum air temperature improved slightly reaching 22.3°C (72.3°F) but the average temperature remained at 25.6°C (78°F). The average soil temperature decreased slightly to 25.9°C (78.7 °F) due to the higher rainfall. Solar radiation was low due to a dense cloud cover that was present the whole week. Relative humidity increased significantly to 88.9 % – a more normal level in our tropical location.

Observations: We are still living the slow growth curve brought about by the cooler weather of weeks past and while the last two weeks have brought slight increases in minimum and average temperatures its effects still does not translate into an improvement in the internal quality of the fruit. The sudden increase in precipitation during the last 2 weeks also makes us hesitate in bringing about a too rapid change in the harvest age for fear of developing internal water spotting and high translucency. We do expect to complete the age increase during the next 2 weeks.  The updated ribbon count (NDF incidence measurement) indicates a significantly lower incidence this year if compared to the previous two years. Our farms do not expect the pronounced volume peak previously experienced sometime between weeks 18 to 24 of each year.  It seems that no one is talking about an NDF peak this year.

Rain: Week 8 brought a significant change in terms of our precipitation – accumulated rainfall for the week was 78 mm (3 inches).

Temperature: The minimum air temperature during week 8 at the source also had a significant improvement reaching 21.5°C (70.7°F) – almost 1.5° higher than the prior week. The average temperature also rose slightly to 25.8°C (78.4°F) but the average soil temperature remained at 26.2°C (79.2°F).  Solar radiation was intense at the beginning of the week but decreased significantly during the middle to the end of the week. Relative humidity increased slightly to 83.4 % but continues low for our tropical conditions.

Observations: The rising average minimum air temperature and the reduction in the range between the minimum and the maximum temperatures of the day are certainly aspects that will lessen the risk of more NDF events. This climatic improvement should also help us achieve better internal quality characteristics on the fruit. Undoubtedly the increase in harvest age will also bring an improvement in the quality of the fruit but we are caught in a quandary because if the change in harvest age is  done faster it  would create a significant reduction  in our weekly volume. With improving temperatures we are encouraged to make the change gradually without significantly affecting the volume.

Rain: Week 7 at the source brought more of the same – very limited precipitation with barely half an inch (14.2mm) of rainfall recorded. And it all came down during one day of the week.

Temperature: The average minimum temperature continued low reaching only 20.1°C (68.2°F). The average temperature for the week leveled at 25.4°C (77.7°F) and the average soil temperature remained stable at 26.1°C (79.1°F. We experienced very intense sunlight and the temperature difference between the high of the day and the low of the night is high – some days were reported with a temperature differences greater than 11°C. Relative humidity stable at 80.9 %, rather low for our tropical conditions.

Observations: There is no doubt that the dry spell of the past few weeks coupled with the low nocturnal temperatures has severely retarded the ripening of the fruit. This has moved us to rapidly and earlier than prior years change the harvest age. Our plan is to harvest at least 80% of our fruit at 22 weeks after forcing. This same weather pattern is stressing the pineapple plants and we can certainly anticipate an extended and belated natural flowering season, although of lesser magnitude than prior years.

Rain: Days of heavy rainfall, cold temperatures and dense cloud cover persisted through last week # 47 at the source. Total rainfall recorded by our weather station was very high – 168.8 mm (6.7 inches).

Temperature: Last week brought a significant drop in the air and soil temperatures and of relevant concern is the fact that the high of the day and the low of the night temperatures were not very different. The minimum temperature registered an average of 21.4°C (70.5 F) – almost one °C lower than last week and the average weekly temperature dropped to 23°C (73.4 F) – 2.4°C lower than last week. The average soil temperature also dropped to 24.4°C (75.9 F) down from 25.8°C last week. Due to the rainfall registered and dense cloud cover the relative humidity jumped to 93.4 %. The entire week was very cloudy and dark and solar radiation very low.

Observations: Last week brought a continuation of adverse weather conditions – with excessive rainfall throughout the Caribbean and Northern regions of Costa Rica causing floods and even significant damage to infrastructure in the lower areas. Four negative factors came together last week that could have caused the first NDF event of the season. The excessive precipitation, very dense cloud cover, the lowering of soil temperatures and a very narrow range between the high and the low temperatures of a day – all converged to create the unwanted plant stress that can cause natural flowering. Next week the farms will initiate field sampling of the exposed crop to determine if these conditions resulted in natural flowering.  However, the severity of any NDF event will not be evident until we can see the emergence of fruit buds a few weeks down the road.

Rain: Heavy rainfall and cloudy days persisted through week 46 at the source. Total rainfall recorded by our weather station was 98 mm (almost 4 inches).

Temperature: While our minimum air temperature remained identical to that of the prior week, the average air and soil temperature fell. The average minimum temperature continued at 22. °C (72.2 F) but the average weekly temperature dropped to 25.4°C (77.6 F) from 26°C. The average soil temperature registered 25.8°C (78.4 F) down from 26.3°C. Relative humidity remained stable at 87%. Solar radiation varied in intensity from medium to low throughout the week.

Observations: Miserable weather has affected our region and the northern part of Costa Rica the past few weeks. While it is normal for this time of the year the fact remains as in prior years that rain coupled with low luminosity and decreased air and soil temperature will bring about increased NDF risk. While it is too early to evaluate, these two weeks brought conditions that may be cause for alarm and we are closely monitoring and sampling plants that have been exposed and susceptible to this stress reaction. Last year the first NDF event took place precisely on week 46.

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.