“We are really at the critical threshold for apple trees and pears,” estimates a producer in Haute-Savoie.

“We are really at the critical frost threshold for apple trees and pears”estimates Wednesday April 24 on France Bleu Pays de Savoie Mathieu Tissot, producer of the Tissot orchards in Haute-Savoie, after several nights of negative temperatures.

Tissot orchards produce 1,600 tonnes of apples and pears each year, threatened by the frost of recent days. During the night Tuesday to Wednesday, “we went down to -1, -1.2 degrees. We are really at the critical frost threshold for apple trees and pears”describes Mathieu Tissot. “We had to start the fight again last night.”

The producer had to use “gas machines which propel hot air which allows the plant to dry. The water stress of the plant is less significant. We spend every 8 to 10 minutes in almost the same place in the orchards to allow the plant to dry. “

A report in two weeks

Since last Thursday, a record cold has hit Isère, with gusts of icy wind. “We had three nights including a very significant night from Thursday to Friday where we went down to -2.3 degrees”says Mathieu Tissot. “Then, the wind has saved us since Sunday. The wind calmed down last night and we still fear next night.”

Producers do not yet have an estimate of their losses but “this period of cold calms the sap and we are afraid that the fruit will fall naturally, so the outcome, we will have it within two weeks, we cannot have it immediately. We are already trying to save the flowers so that ‘they are not toasted’concludes Mathieu Tissot.