Spanish lemon and grapefruit trade association Ailimpo has strongly criticised citrus forecast figures released by the regional government in Murcia - Spain’s largest lemon-growing region.
According to Ailimpo spokesman Marcos Marín, the release has more to do with politics than the real prospects for the crop. “We are not at all in agreement with the forecasts,” said Marín. “To say there is going to be a drop in production is potentially very damaging to the sector as it could lead our customers to seek product elsewhere. He pointed out that the pre-season forecast released by the regional government in 2005 predicted a decline in production, but in the end, the crop exceeded expectations. “That is what we think will happen this year,” said Marín.
According to the department of agriculture at the Murcia regional executive, Fino lemon production for the autumn and winter is likely to fall by 18 per cent, while Verna (summer) lemon production in 2007 is forecast to decline by 35.7 per cent. Overall, the crop is estimated to come in at 379,290 tonnes, compared to 490,062t in 2005-06.
Drought conditions, biennial bearing, low prices and scant profitability were all highlighted as reasons for the fall at last week’s meeting at the regional executive.
Ailimpo said it will be releasing its own statistics next week.
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