Spanish lemon and grapefruit association Ailimpo is forecasting a hike of 11 per cent in the Spanish lemon crop for the season just starting.
The 2012-13 campaign closed with an output of 820,000 tonnes and this year Spain is expected to produce 910,000t, although much will depend on autumn rainfall and the subsequent development of fruit size, Ailimpo said in a statement. The increase will be in both the winter Fino variety and in its summer crop of Verna lemons.
Ailimpo reports crop quality is good but is concerned that competition with fruit from Turkey will be stiff as growers there are also expecting a larger lemon harvest than last season and the Turkish lira has lost 19 per cent of its value against the euro in the last 12 months.
The Spanish harvest is expected to start at the end of September.
