Catalonia’s peach and nectarine crop will be 34 per cent lower than the five-year average according to the latest estimates released today by Afrucat.
Overall, output is expected to be down by 11 per cent compared to last year at 306,610 tonnes. But it’s worth noting that 2020 was a year of low production, having seen a decrease of 33 per cent compared with 2019.
Round peach production is expected to be down 5 per cent at 76,320 tonnes, while flat peach production will decrease by 14 per cent to 86,660 tonnes. Nectarine volume is anticipated to be down 13 per cent at 121,390 tonnes. Clingstone peach production will increase by 4 per cent to 22,430 tonnes.
By area, Lleida and Tarragona anticipate the biggest falls in production due to poor weather and grubbing. Harvesting here is running four to seven days behind normal.
Afrucat said the rate of new plantings has slowed down dramatically in Catalonia. This, combined with uprooting of old orchards, has reduced region’s productive acreage.
