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Little rain, little oranges

Some Algarve markets are refusing to take oranges because they are so small due to a lack of rain.

Horácio Ferreira from the Agricultural Cooperative of Citrus Producers in the Algarve said: “The fact that it hasn’t rained has an effect on an orange’s size, which is why they are growing less than last year. Rain produces larger fruit as water from above has different micro elements, fertilising the soil.”

Many farmers are being forced to sell their produce to less profitable markets such as the juice industry.

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