Angel Castro, the manager of the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) Aubergine from Almagro, said they expected to harvest more than 1.8 million kilos of eggplants from the Solanum melongenaspecies, of the Dealmagro variety this campaign. According to Castro, the production data obtained in the middle of the campaign's duration indicates that the final production volume will most probably exceed last year's production.
Castro also said the collection, which was developing normally, would not be as good as the 2.5 million kilo record production achieved in 2011. This year, a total of 36 farmers have registered themselves in the IGP to produce this variety of eggplant, of which there are a total of 60 hectares planted.
According to the manager of the IGP, the current campaign will create about 350 direct jobs during these months. Crop prospects are very good and there will be a great quality, as the producers were able to cope within the first weeks of the campaign with the spider mites that appeared in the area, stressed Castro.
The high temperatures recorded in recent weeks are benefiting the production of this vegetable, which requires heat to develop better. In this regard, Castro noted, even though production this year will be good, demand of Almagro eggplants is still higher than their agricultural production.
According to the manager of the IGP, this proves they need to increase the number of hectares dedicated to the cultivation of this vegetable, which is very appreciated as a pickling and is increasingly used more at the culinary level. Castro said consumption of eggplants from Almagro had increased because of their unique taste and beneficial health properties, that have been supported by several scientific studies.
In fact, he said, the eggplant from Almagro has become a high end article and one of the best valued typical products of La Mancha, he added.
The geographical area of production, processing, and packaging of Almagro eggplant is limited to the municipalities of Aldea del Rey, Almagro, Bolaños de Calatrava, Calzada de Calatrava Granatula de Calatrava, Valenzuela de Calatrava, and Viso del Marques, all in the province of Ciudad Real.
Source: Efeagro