frozen appple
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Last week's surprising frost which passed through the Czech Republic damaged this year's fruit crop. Growers estimate the damage at hundreds of millions of Czech Crowns. The Fruit Union claims that these are the highest losses in decades.

Some fruit growing businesses could face an existential problem, says the Fruit Union. The association's president Martin Ludvík wants to negotiate with the Ministry of Agriculture.

According to the latest estimates the severe frost damaged under 6400 hectares of orchards, this represents 37 percent of all fertile orchards in the Czech Republic. "Harvest from the effected areas will be minimal or none at all," said Ludvík. About 24 percent of orchards sustained moderate damage and 39 percent have not sustained any major damage.

The annual output of the Czech fruit industry is estimated at an average of 1.5 billion CZK [88 milion USD] per year.

A third of the apple crop, the main variety of grown fruit, has been heavily damaged and according to Ludvík a serious impact on the economy can be expected. Cherries were probably the worst hit when frost severely damaged about three quarters of growing locations.

Extensive losses are expected for plums, pears, currants and strawberries. In northern Bohemia the frost even damaged apricot trees and strawberry plants.