What happened
In 2016, San Luis Potosí in Mexico was hit by weeks of heavy hailstorms that damaged many crops and greenhouses in the region. The crops inside MSC’s structures were not affected.
Why the crop survived
MSC fits its shade mesh with an anti-hail system that protects any crop growing underneath.
Without that protection, a single storm can wipe out the whole crop. It can also damage the frame and the mesh, adding repair costs to the lost harvest.
What it means for Australia
Hail is one of the biggest risks for growers in south-east Queensland, northern NSW and the Granite Belt. An anti-hail mesh house costs far less than a full greenhouse, and it protects both the season’s crop and the structure.