Harvista™ a tool that helps mitigate the impact of heat on crops

High temperatures and extreme heat events are reshaping fruit production, forcing growers to increasingly adapt their harvest strategies. Rising temperatures accelerate ripening, increase premature fruit drop and shorten the optimal harvest window, requiring producers to make decisions within increasingly tight timeframes while raising the risk of crop losses.

Against this backdrop, tools that help preserve fruit quality and provide greater flexibility when planning harvests are becoming increasingly important. Harvista™, the pre-harvest solution developed by AgroFresh, helps reduce premature fruit drop and enables staggered harvesting. In doing so, it can contribute to more efficient use of resources and support more sustainable production management.

A tool to address the impact of high temperatures

Under high-temperature conditions, keeping fruit on the tree for longer without compromising its quality can make a significant difference for growers.

Harvista™ works by regulating the production of ethylene, the hormone involved in the ripening process, helping to slow this natural process and allowing fruit to remain in optimal condition for longer.

These effects can extend beyond the field and benefit the entire value chain. Fruit that maintains its quality for longer can better withstand subsequent storage, transport and marketing stages, increasing its chances of reaching consumers with good appearance, firmness and flavour.

In this way, the solution can also contribute to minimising losses, optimising resource use and reducing food waste, one of the key objectives of sustainability strategies being developed across the fruit and vegetable sector.

Exceptional authorisation for the 2026 campaign

Harvista™ has received an exceptional authorisation for use on apples and pears in Catalonia and Aragon, as well as on pears in the Region of Murcia, under specific application conditions.

The established conditions are:

• Dose: 8.75–11.7 L of product/ha.

• Number of applications: 1.

• Application timing: BBCH 81–87.

• Spray volume: 100–1,000 L/ha.

• Pre-harvest interval: 3 days.

The authorisation also establishes different application periods depending on the crop:

• Pear: from 15 June to 12 October 2026.

• Apple: from 1 July to 28 October 2026.

Harvista™ must be used under the supervision of the competent authorities in each autonomous community where the exceptional authorisation has been granted and in accordance with the specific instructions included on the product label.

A response to new climate challenges

The increasing frequency and intensity of heat events are creating new challenges for fruit production. Under these conditions, growers need tools that can enhance their ability to adapt without compromising fruit quality or operational efficiency.

With this exceptional authorisation, AgroFresh strengthens its commitment to providing solutions for fruit growers, offering a tool that helps mitigate the impact of high temperatures, reduce losses and make better use of each harvest.

Harvista™ therefore positions itself as a tool for addressing the challenges associated with climate change and moving towards more efficient, resilient fruit production focused on maintaining fruit quality.

More information.