The latest data from the Ministry of Agriculture on the area destined for cherry cultivation corresponding to the year 2022 confirm that Aragon is Spain's largest cherry producer. Last year, the autonomous community of Aragon had 13,253 hectares of cherry trees (4,115 rainfed hectares and 9,138 irrigated ones), well ahead of Extremadura, which had 9,702 hectares (8,007 rainfed and 1,696 irrigated) and Catalonia, with 2,982 (1,345 rainfed and 1,638 irrigated).
Sources of the UAGA (Union of Farmers and Ranchers of Aragon) highlighted that last year producers in Aragon harvested 48,600 tons of cherries. According to forecasts, this year's harvest will be much higher than in 2020 and 2021, two years in which the harvests were very conditioned by the impact of the spring frosts on the crops in areas such as Ricla, Calatayud, and Bolea.
The 30 companies dedicated to this production in Ricla, in particular, will produce more than 7,000,000 kilos of cherries this season, which arrived on the market in mid-May.
The City Council of Ricla highlighted that the price of the fruit stood at 7 and 8 euro per kilo in the national market this year. “The price achieved in May was high because producers sold their cherries at 3.5 euro per kilo. In June, the price remained at up to 3 euro, something unusual because it's usually worth 2 euro. In the Jerte valley, the cherries have experienced crackling problems and the picota cherries are smaller,” stated Pedro Cabañero.
From the European Union to Asia
The SAT Vidrio company, the strongest company in Ricla which also has lands in La Almunia de Doña Godina, Mequinenza, and Aranda del Moncayo, plans to bring its Aragonese cherries to the Thai market, after having entered the Chinese market.
Source: heraldo.es