Stonefruit growers in Andalucia are forecasting a seven per cent decrease in production this season. The region is one of the earliest producing areas in Spain and growers at regional association Asociafruit are hoping that quality will be good as long as water does not run scarce.
The cold winter that most of Europe has experienced is also having an effect on stone-fruit trees and as a result blossoming has been delayed in producing areas throughout Spain. Because of this, damage due to frost is practically non-existent as frosts have come before the flowering period.
Although frost could still strike, grower groups warn, as the weeks go by this becomes less likely. The concern then could be that 2006 may bring another year of overproduction, particularly as new plantings are coming on stream.
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