This week, after a week's delay, has marked the start of the harvest of the early cherry varieties at the Zaragoza-based cooperative Cosanse.
"The changing weather conditions throughout the winter and early spring have taken a toll on the flowering and fruit setting, causing a slight delay of between 5 and 7 days compared to previous campaigns. However, we have prospects for a larger harvest and optimum quality," explains Sergio Alonso, of Cosanse's commercial department.
"We've been lucky to escape the severe hailstorm that affected several towns in the province, such as Alfamén and Almonacid. It did not reach our farms for very little," he affirms.
Currently, Cosanse has almost 180 hectares of own production in various locations in the region of Valdejalón, in the province of Zaragoza, with over 120,000 cherry trees of different varieties and characteristics.
The first varieties to be harvested are the Burlat and Early Bigi, which will be followed shortly by harder ones, such as the Frisco, Prime Giant, Sommerset, Chelan, Sonata and Lapins. The season will close with the Skeena and Sweet Heart.
"We have a marketing calendar that will last until mid-July and will allow us to distribute our cherries both in the domestic and some major export markets, with special attention to the traditional European destinations," points out Sergio Alonso.
Lower production of apricots, nectarines and plums
As in most other Spanish producing areas, this year Zaragoza will have less stonefruit as a result of the impact of frosts and a poor fruit setting. This will especially be the case for apricots, nectarines and plums.
"It seems we'll keep the peach volume stable thanks to the entry into production of new plantations. As for Paraguayo peaches, the volume will grow."