The harvest of the earliest stone fruit batches is already underway in the Spanish Region of Murcia, where the season has started about 10 days earlier than average across many areas and for many varieties thanks to the weather conditions, with warm temperatures and no rainfall.
"While last year's campaign kicked off with significant volumes in May, prospects for this season point to this happening around April 20 this time," says Joaquin Gómez, president of Apoexpa, the Association of Producers – Exporters of Fruits, Table Grapes and Other Agricultural Products.
"The trees have had a good amount of cold hours, followed by warmer than usual temperatures and a lack of rainfall. This won't help alleviate the drought, but will, at least, contribute to the high quality of the fruit," says Joaquín Gómez.
The Region of Murcia exported around 130,000 tons of stone fruit in 2023, nearly 20% of the total exported by Spain. This year, exports are expected to reach between 180,000 and 190,000 tons, especially as a result of the recovery of the apricot harvest.
"The lack of cold and bad weather had a significant impact on the apricot supply last year, but this year, barring any weather setbacks, forecasts point to the apricot harvest reaching approximately 50,000 tons," says Joaquín Gómez.
The Region of Murcia is expected to produce a record figure of more than 700,000 tons of stone fruit and table grapes in 2024.
For more information:
APOEXPA
C. San Martín de Porres, 3,
30001 Murcia, Spain
T: +34 968 20 48 72
apoexpa@fepex.es
apoexpa.es