Valencia’s 2011/12 citrus crop is expected to feature a drop in production of almost 10 per cent compared with the year before, although growers are hopeful the quality and sizing of this campaign’s crop could lead to better prices.
Volumes for the new season in the Spanish region are likely to total around 3,168,550 tonnes, equivalent to a 9.8 per cent decrease compared with the campaign a year before, according to a forecast released by the regional government of Valencia.
The fall in production is expected to be most apparent in oranges, with volumes likely to be down by 14.4 per cent from the 2010/11 season to 1,372,161 tonnes, while the clementine crop to set to decrease by 9 per cent to 1,572,569 tonnes.
However, production of lemons and pomelos, which is centered primarily in the province of Alicante to forecast to rise for both products by 23 per cent to 217,642 tonnes and by 24 per cent to 6,178 tonnes respectively.
