The Spanish winter Fino lemon season has closed with a 40 per cent decline in exports on levels achieved two years ago. Turkey has overtaken Spain as export leader of the fruit.
Spain exported some 290,000 tonnes of Fino between September 2006 and April 2007, while Turkish exports climbed to 330,000t. Spanish growers left 150,000t on the trees due to the absence of a market for the fruit.
Spanish trade body Ailimpo said in a statement that it may brand under the banner “Lemons from Spain”. Production of Fino lemons accounts for 75 per cent of the Spanish crop.
