Cherry producers in northern Spain are anticipating a major increase in production this season, thanks in the main to very favourable weather conditions during the spring months.
The production rise looks likely to be particularly notable in Catalonia, where region fresh produce association Unió de Pagesos (UP) is forecasting a crop increase of between 10 per cent and 50 per cent compared with 2010.
The association told Spanish news agency EFE that the volume rise would vary according to region, with the province of Ribera d’Ebre anticipating a 50 per cent increase, while the areas of Lleida and Baix Llobregat were forecasting rises of 12 per cent and 30 per cent respectively.
With harvesting of the crop having begun last month, UP has called on regional distributors to make every effort to ensure the increased volumes reach retail and wholesale buyers.
In the neighbouring region of Aragon, regional agricultural association UAGA is also forecasting an increase in the local cherry crop of 15 per cent for this season compared with the previous campaign.
Jesus García from the organisation told EFE that the favourable climate, and specifically the lack of frosts, over recent months had benefited the fruit development, adding that growers were forecasting a good campaign compared with recent seasons.
“This year, we have not had any frosts to endanger the crop and the weather during the winter and spring was good for the flowering of the fruit,” he said.
In total, UAGA said it expected growers in Aragon to harvest 24,000 tonnes of cherries this campaign, which will amount to a 15 per cent rise from the 2010 season.
