Catalonia exported more than 300,000 tonnes of stonefruit in 2013 according to regional fresh produce association Afrucat. Director Manel Simon (pictured) said this was a 26 per cent increase on the previous year and marked a new record for producers.
Peach sendings registered the biggest increase, rising by 41 per cent, while nectarines finished the year up 17 per cent. In total, around three-quarters of Catalonia’s stonefruit production was sold overseas.
Simon said although shipments to Russia and eastern Europe had shown the fastest growth in recent years, the main reason for last year’s positive results was strong sales in traditional markets such as Germany and France. Exports to German rose by 42 per cent in 2013, while shipments to France finished the year up 35 per cent.
