The first estimates of cherry crop losses in the main Spanish producing regions point to the possibility of a significant reduction in the volume to be produced this season. The unstable weather conditions during the spring have had a decisive impact; however, not all areas have been affected in the same way by the weather in recent months, and this year, the supply from those areas, which is often marketed more locally, could have a more prominent role.
"In the area of Sierra Mágina we have not had any fruit setting problems, nor has the cold weather caused damage to this year's crop," says Juan Fernández, from the San Marcos Horticultural Cooperative in Torres, Jaén. "The campaign has already started, although with very small volumes. In the middle of this week we will start to have some larger volumes. In total, we expect to harvest between 500,000 and 600,000 kilos of cherries."
Jaen is the second largest cherry-producing region in Andalusia, after Granada. The fruit's cultivation is carried out on the slopes of the foothills of Sierra Mágina, declared a Natural Park and designated by the EU as a Special Area of Conservation; a privileged natural enclave, but which also puts limits to the acquisition of new land to expand the cherry production area around the municipality of Torres, where most of the crops are located, explains Juan Fernández.
"We market our cherries exclusively in the domestic market, where we work with wholesalers in various provinces, including Granada, Malaga or Valencia. We also sell fruit to supermarkets and small stores and we also make direct sales to customers through our website cerezasdetorres.com".
"This year we are already seeing great interest in our cherries," says Juan.
For more information:
Cooperativa Hortofrutícola San Marcos
23540 Torres, Jaen, Spain
Tel.: +34 953 36 31 55
horsanmarcos@cerezas.e.telefonica.net
https://cerezasdetorres.com/