The latest review by Spain’s lemon and grapefruit interprofessional of the new production season predicts a strong rise in lemon volumes and narrow contraction in grapefruit supply for 2016/17.
Ailimpo’s most recent crop estimate confirms the figures released in July, which peg the lemon crop at 980,000 tonnes (+22 per cent) and grapefruit at 67,000 tonnes (-6 per cent).
The lemon campaign is already underway but volumes are still low due to the heavy stocks of Southern Hemisphere fruit.
“Full activity is expected to come gradually during October, as Spanish Primofiori is a fresh and high quality lemon, much better than Southern Hemisphere lemons with severe quality and condition problems,” Ailimpo said in a press release.
In the case of grapefruit, volumes will start to come on stream from the second half of October. Ailimpo notes that Spain will benefit this year from the significantly shorter crops in Florida and Israel.
The association will release a revised forecast in late January that will focus on Verna lemons.
