The Region of Murcia is undoubtedly the main apricot-producing area in Spain, and right there, near the Albudeite-Campos de Río municipality, is the location of what is "probably the earliest apricot production area in all of Europe, besides the Archena area. The harvest there starts about 10-15 days earlier than in other early production regions," says José Antonio Martínez Miñano, CEO of Early Fruit, a company specializing in the production of this fruit.
"Apricots account for 80% of our stone fruit production. This year, we expect a normal harvest, as the flowering and fruit setting have been quite good, and if there are no frosts (which are rare in this area) or hail, we should have normal production volumes. These could be ready about 10-12 days earlier than last year and become available on April 15."
"Our brand of French-type red-cheeked apricots, Borsalino and Cebas Red, is in fact one of the first to hit the market in the European apricot campaign," he says. "The Borsalino variety could start as early as April 5."
Last year, Spain produced 32% more apricots than in the 2022 campaign, which was significantly affected by the weather, thus recovering its productive potential. "Despite not being hit by any frosts, the cold weather still caused the fruit to be ready later than expected, and our productions overlapped with those of Cieza and Pliego. With all the varieties coming together at once, prices suffered at a time when the demand was not as high as expected," says José Antonio. "But everything points to this not happening again this year."
"We are already seeing interest in the stone fruit campaign and have even been in contact with several supermarkets, which have been informed that we expect a normal production this year, and that we will start 10 days earlier than last year."
"In addition to being CEO of Early Fruit, I am also part of the managing board of the Vega de Pliego cooperative, managing the marketing of fruit from this mid/late area, so we can supply our customers with stone fruit throughout the entire campaign, from April 15 to June 15-20. Few people can offer this supply window, and customers and supermarkets greatly appreciate being able to work with a single supplier during the months of the Murcian campaign."
Following the rains in recent months, which have replenished the basins in Albacete that Murcia relies on, and the approval of the transfer of more cubic meters for agricultural irrigation, "I don't think we will have problems with the water supply until after the summer," says José Antonio. "This is very good news because not only the early fruit, but also the late one should grow to larger sizes and be of higher quality."
For more information:
Early Fruit S.L.
Albudeite, Murcia, Spain
Tel.: +34 657 333 098
https://earlyfruitsl.com