Catalonia is forecasting a peach and nectarine crop of 413,050 tonnes this year, a decrease of 18.6 per cent on the 2019 harvest, according to Afrucat.
The association said although growers face a complicated season due to a shortage of labour and increased production costs caused by Covid-19, the sector remains hopeful that the general shortfall in production across Europe will bolster prices.
Catalan production of round peaches is set to fall by 22 per cent to 95,490 tonnes, while flat peaches are down 15 per cent at 113,630 tonnes. Nectarines are expected to fall by 20 per cent (181,500 tonnes), and clingstone peach volumes will drop by 9 per cent to 22,430 tonnes.
Harvest is running 5-7 days earlier than last year in some regions, while others expect delays of 7-10 days.
The slowdown in new plantings observed since the start of the Russian veto in 2014 continues, with most new production coming from varietal renovation, Afrucat said. The association also noted that round peaches and yellow-fleshed nectarines accounted for most of the grubbing of orchards.
The association estimates that growers face an increase in production costs of around 6 per cent this year due to Covid-19.
Afrucat’s managing director, Manel Simon, said the significant decrease in the Catalan harvest, added to the general fall expected in Europe, means producers could see better prices, continuing the positive start to the stonefruit campaign southern Spain.
He noted that normally prices for the earliest fruit start high but “in the last few weeks they would have already fallen and this year they have remained high”.
Another key element of the campaign is the exceptional quality of the fruit, which is expected to have a good size profile and high brix levels, Simon added.
Carmel Mòdol, general director of Food, Quality and Food Industries of DARP, added that the Covid-19 pandemic has boosted consumer demand for fruit and vegetables, particularly locally grown products.
“If we don’t take advantage of the perfect conditions – low European production, excellent quality and high consumer demand – then maybe our problems are more deep rooted,” said Siscoc Palau, president of Afrucat’s stonefruit committee.
Simon said the shortage of labour is posing significant problems for producers. He urged the government to do more to expedite the entry of undocumented Romanian workers stranded in that country and unable to get back into Spain.
“Efforts in this regard are moving forward and the next coachloads of Romanian workers are due to arrive next week,” he said.
