Apple and pear growers in the Lerida area of north-eastern Spain are counting the cost of a devastating hailstorm that struck on 5 July. High winds, heavy rain and hail fell in the afternoon over more than 68,000ha in the Lerida area damaging crops in a 25,000ha area.
Although top fruit is the worst affected by the storm, there was also damage to peach, sweetcorn and almond crops.
President of the Catalonia regional executive Artur Mas visited orchards on 9 July to see the damage for himself.
He told growers: “The government is on your side. I wanted to come and give a clear message that we will do our best to smooth the way for the necessary procedures so that you can recover a significant part of the costs that you have incurred.”
