Europe's fruit farmers worry as unseasonal frosts threaten harvests

As Europe endures an unusual cold snap, many fruit farmers are concerned for their summer harvests.

Transcript

00:00 As a cold snap hits much of Europe, many fruit farmers are worried about the summer harvest.

00:06 Since mid-April here in Croatia and in other Balkan states, temperatures have plunged from

00:11 near record highs to unseasonal lows, bringing snow and ice to much of the region.

00:19 It was very warm, we had up to 30 degrees one day, and then suddenly we got to minuses.

00:26 Fruit trees and everything is destroyed, it's over.

00:29 Practically, if any apple tree remains, it will be good.

00:33 In the Netherlands, farmers are ingeniously spraying the buds of their fruit trees with water.

00:38 When they freeze over, it actually protects the buds.

00:41 When the ice melts, heat is released, which prevents them from getting badly damaged.

00:48 It's already on the branch, and there's ice around the fruit already, because the flower

00:53 is already underneath the fruit, and the fruit is already covered in ice.

00:58 That layer of ice ensures a certain isolation and thawing temperature, and because of that

01:03 thawing temperature, the fruit stays just above zero.

01:07 And at higher altitudes in Europe, such as here in Austria, the heavy snowfalls are a

01:12 challenge to drivers, forcing them to put chains back on their tyres.

01:16 Forecasters are predicting the extreme conditions will run into next week.

01:21 [WHOOSH]