Spanish stone fruit projections released in April are being revised upwards by regional authorities.
According to the Confederation of Spanish Co-operatives (CCAE), volumes are expected to climb by 30 per cent on forecasts made in April, and to exceed the 2000-04 five-year average by four cent.
The plum crop is forecast to see the biggest gains up 34.6 per cent on 2004 levels. Nectarine volumes are forecast to rise by 20.9 per cent to 342,980t and peaches by 17.5t to 245,800t. Smaller gains are forecast for apricots at just 2.2 per cent to 104,630t.
Regionally the picture is varied an in Murcia - one of the key production areas - total stone fruit crop volumes are forecast to rise by 8.4 per cent on 2004 with the biggest gains likely for nectarines at 18 per cent.
The CCAE figures differ slightly from those produced by the agriculture office of the Murcia regional executive, which also highlights that the crop is still expected to be considerably lower than the region's true production potential. This is because the crop has still suffered overall from the cold winter and spring temperatures which brought significant damage to early varieties of peach and nectarine.
The percentages do not tell the whole story as last year's early season in Murcia was also affected by inclement frosts. The fact that overall crop volumes are forecast to rise is due mainly to large volumes of mid- and late season firm-fleshed types.
Also growers in Murcia whose plantations have not been affected by frosts have experienced extremely good fruit set which is a significant boost to both volume and quality. The executive further reports that the season is still running behind on previous campaigns. But a shift in the portfolio of varieties means that growers are focusing more on early cultivars and types that are harvested and marketed in early June.
Meanwhile, Aragon in north-eastern Spain is expecting one of its best crops in recent years. It is also a leading growing area and nectarine production is expected to recover from last year's frost-struck campaign to the tune of 30 per cent with a harvest of some 97,500t.
And in Valencia, nectarine production is expected to double to 18,600t. Authorities in the region say they are expecting "a very good crop indeed."
