In Emiliano Zapata Nexatengo, Atlixco, Puebla, a severe hailstorm struck local farms, damaging approximately seven hectares of flowers, including velvet, cempasúchil, and cipiterna, as well as vegetable crops such as tomatoes and onions, just ahead of the Día de Muertos harvest.
Producers described the hail as unexpected and more intense than a similar event two weeks earlier in Cabrera, which primarily affected corn. Diego Díaz, a local grower, lost two hectares of flowers, while Javier Flores reported severe damage across three hectares. Despite using fungicides and pesticides, farmers consider it unlikely that the flowers will meet the quality standards required for sale.
The storm also delays the vegetable harvest, forcing growers to reinvest in chemical treatments to try to salvage remaining crops. Margarito Ponce, manager of an onion greenhouse, highlighted that climate change is increasing unpredictability in agriculture, with more intense rains and rising pest pressures threatening farmers' investments.
Growers emphasized that seasonal flowers for Día de Muertos are irreplaceable, as their value depends on the exact timing of the sale and product quality. "We are concerned because this is our livelihood," they said, surveying the damage that left broken stems, ruined flowers, and waterlogged fields.
Source: elbuentono.com.mx
