The Spanish Interprofessional Association of Lemon and Grapefruit Producers (Ailimpo) has announced its first production forecast for the 2010/11 lemon season, with expectations of 20 per cent increase to some 807,000 tonnes.
Ailimpo said the crop is developing “normally” in terms of volume (with more fruit per tree) and “exceptionally” with respect to fruit quality.
Last season (2009/10), Spain produced a below-average lemon crop of 673,000 tonnes due to an abnormal decline in output for the Verna variety.
The increase this season is expected for both Fino and Verna lemons, Ailimpo said, particularly the latter variety.
Exports are anticipated to rise as a result, which Ailimpo suggests will help Spain to compete against Turkey at the beginning of the season and against Argentina and South Africa from May 2011 onwards.
The Spanish lemon season kicks off at the beginning of October but volume is expected to be light until November.
Production has fluctuated greatly during the last few seasons, according to data from Ailimpo.
Volume reached 1.1m tonnes in 2005/06, falling to 1.09m tonnes in 2006/07 and 552,192 tonnes in 2007/08, before rising to 945,562 tonnes in 2008/09.
