The apple producers of the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) Poma de Girona are starting the harvest this August and will continue until October. It is a season marked by the impact of storms, but with a better quality fruit. This season's apple harvest is forecast to be 14% lower in the province of Girona, with a total of 74,760 tons. The drop in the production is also having an impact on the arrival of seasonal workers, who come mainly from the province of Girona, since there will be about a thousand less than in previous years.
Road racing cyclist Ariadna Trias, symbolically picking the first apple together with representatives of Poma de Girona and the administrations
Poma de Girona is made up of the companies Girona Fruits, Giropoma Costa Brava and Fructícola Empordà, which have a safety protocol and are implementing "strict measures, and have also trained the workers" of the three facilities for the prevention of COVID-19. They argue that, as in other countries, field personnel can live in houses on the farms themselves in order to be integrated into the productive environment.
The symbolic act of the picking of the first apple took place a few days ago at IRTA-Mas Badia, in Canet de la Tallada (Baix Empordà / Girona), and was attended by Llorenç Frigola, president of Poma de Girona; Joan Bonany, director of IRTA-Mas Badia, and Elisabet Sánchez, director of the Territorial Services of Agriculture, Livestock, Fishing and Food (DARP) in Girona. Sergi Güell and Ariadna Trias, president and road racing cyclist of the Massi-Tactic UCI Women's Team, the only Catalan women's team in the highest international category, were also present. The idea was to highlight the link between "apples, health and sport".
Joan Bonany (IRTA-Mas Badia), Llorenç Frigola (Poma de Girona) and Elisabet Sánchez (DARP), at the presentation
The apple growers in the province of Girona expect a lower harvest this year due to the impact of storm Gloria and the floods in the apple fields. A rainier than average winter and spring, with two floods, has taken a toll on the flowering, resulting in lower production and a higher risk of diseases. Joan Bonany says that "despite these circumstances, the facilities have acted appropriately and it will be possible to supply a healthy, high-quality apple."
The drop in the production is affecting all varieties, but is more significant for the Granny Smith (26%), Cripps Pink (20%) and the red varieties (19%). It is more moderate in the case of the Golden (10%) and Gala (5%), according to the data collected by the Catalan Fruit Business Association (Afrucat).
Sergi Güell, Llorenç Frigola and Ariadna Trias
For more information: http://es.pomadegirona.cat