Hail last week in the northern Spanish areas of Aragon and Zaragoza has affected cherry and peach production.
Matarreña was the most severely hit, and Aragon producers’ union UAGA reported that some growers of peaches have lost 90 to 100 per cent of their crops, with 80-90 per cent of early cherries lost just before they were due to be harvested. Later cherry varieties have also suffered some impact, although to a much lesser extent.
Meanwhile, national statistics suggest that Spanish cherry production this season is likely to rise by some 10.1 per cent on last season’s totals.
Other stonefruit types are also showing a recovery on last year, with plum production up 5.4 per cent, apricots up by 3.1 per cent and peaches more or less on a par with last season’s levels.
