The stone fruit season in Morocco is progressing, with the harvests in Taroudant and Marrakech gradually giving way to those in Meknes. Most of the national production is now concentrated in the Meknes/Saïss region, making it a good indicator of the state of the sector nationwide. Othman Michbal, the deputy general manager of Les Domaines Zniber, one of the country's longest-standing growing exporters, shares his thoughts on the current season.
A difficult period for the sector, but the picture is not entirely bleak
The stone fruit industry is experiencing a challenging period. Water scarcity is exhausting growers, and rising temperatures and increasingly frequent climate accidents are making production risky. Phytosanitary treatment is no longer evident at a time when consumers and decision-makers are turning away from the use of chemicals. Other urgent and latent challenges are also emerging, and growers must demonstrate agronomic prowess and expertise to push forward the limits of quality while navigating a delicate balance. However, the sector benefits from a steadily growing foreign market and a local market heavily contingent on supply and demand.
Seasonality and surface areas stable this year
According to Michbal, the stone fruit season spans much of the year, with harvests staggered from south to north. However, rising temperatures are reducing yields in several regions. The grower explains, "The season starts in week 13 in Taroudant, and then from week 15 to week 21 in Marrakech. In Meknes, the stronghold of national production, the season runs from week 18 for the extra-early varieties to week 40 for the late varieties. There are no major changes in seasonality this year, except for a slight delay in the start, which does not affect the large volumes. There have also been no significant changes in export schedules, as Taroudant and Marrakech have always been export-oriented, while Gharb's production mainly supplies the local market."
It is difficult to accurately quantify changes in area or volume at the national level, especially in times of drought. Michbal notes a certain relative stability: "The area has not fundamentally changed. However, water stress and climate change have led many growers to uproot their orchards, thereby shrinking volumes. Stone fruits require 500 to 900 hours of cold weather to fulfill their physiological needs, so we are witnessing a gradual shift of orchards to higher altitudes. Additionally, several producers are increasingly transitioning to low-chilling varieties that are better suited to the current climate in different regions."
Over 130 varieties to cover the entire season
As heat-sensitive crops, stone fruits are at the front line of adaptation to climate change, a challenge that, according to Michbal, Domaines Zniber has taken hold of. He explains: "The previous season was particularly difficult from a climatic point of view. We observed several waves of flowering due to irregular and rising temperatures. We even saw trees bearing fruit and flowers at the same time, which complicated phytosanitary treatments. Several years ago, we realized that, while of course hoping for favorable weather conditions, the only way forward was to significantly diversify our portfolio of varieties. We launched a major project to develop our varietal heritage, and the results have been very satisfactory."
He continues: "This varietal development work builds on our existing foundation of a very good terroir. Thanks to its microclimate, water resources, and altitude, the Meknes terroir has historically been ideal for growing stone fruits, yielding fruit of high aromatic quality. This season, we have expanded our range to over 130 varieties of plums, peaches, and nectarines. This allows us to extend the season, spread it out more evenly, and make it more consistent and resistant to climatic hazards. Yields are also up compared to 2024. Combined with better weather conditions, this strategy allows us to forecast a successful season. We have benefited from over 900 hours of cold weather, and our new varieties are performing exceptionally well, resulting in increased volumes despite the damage caused by hailstorms in the Saïss region."
Quality to improve significantly this season
The first harvests are promising, as Michbal points out. "Stone fruits require a combination of many parameters to achieve good quality. This season, we obtained firm fruit with uniform coloration, an intense fragrance, and a good aroma. The BRIX index ranges from 10 to 18, depending on the variety. Thanks to a successful thinning operation, we were also able to obtain the sizes requested by our markets, achieving a good proportion of AA-sized fruit (in high demand), as well as A, B, and C sizes, while avoiding a large proportion of fruit that was either too large (AAA) or too small (D). This is no easy task; technical management faces many challenges. We had continuous rain throughout March, which complicated phytosanitary treatments, as well as four hailstorms between April and May. Not to mention pests such as thrips and mites, and diseases such as oidium and obliqua."
Sustained local and international demand
Despite inflation and rising fruit prices, the local Moroccan market is enthusiastic for stone fruits and absorbs large volumes, providing security for growers. Michbal expresses his confidence regarding demand: "Thanks to unwavering demand, we anticipate an increase in our export programs, as well as our supply to the local market. In the local market, we work with many large and medium-sized distributors in a structured manner. Our fruit is also popular in many destinations on the export market, particularly the United Kingdom and Germany."
The Moroccan season coincides with that of Spain, its main competitor on the European market. However, according to Michbal, there is room for everyone. He explains: "Competition with Spain is often fierce, as Spanish growers have large volumes and pursue an aggressive pricing policy. Despite this, demand in Germany and the United Kingdom is strong enough to absorb the volume surplus we are recording this year. There are also other high-potential markets, such as France. The main obstacle in France is consumers' patriotic behavior, as they prefer domestic products even if they are more expensive. We are confident that we can stabilize our shipments to Europe thanks to our work on fruit quality, packaging, consistency, swift transit time, and, most importantly, our adaptation to increasingly strict export standards and certifications, which are causing many exporters to withdraw from the European market."
Other markets are promising but logistically complicated
Other markets are appealing to Moroccan exporters, but logistical challenges hinder their potential. Michbal explains, "The Gulf market is very interesting, but we currently have to deliver by air because the fruit is sensitive to long transit times. This makes us less competitive for large volumes. We hope to see improvements in maritime trade between our regions, as well as advanced development of new varieties that extend shelf life. The situation is similar for North America. The West African market is promising, but we have encountered an issue with maintaining the cold chain at destination, which shortens the product's shelf life. Finally, there is the processing market, but it requires dedicated production using specific varieties, unlike with citrus fruits, for example."
Moroccan producers are not out of the woods yet
While several indicators are on the green, Morocco's stone fruit industry relies on a fragile balance, requiring complex and costly agricultural operations to guarantee quality. The situation is further complicated as major markets, such as the European Union, tend to restrict the use of chemical pesticides. Michbal concludes: "There is no alternative. We must move forward toward integrated pest management, and do it quickly. It is in this area that origins and producers will differentiate themselves, and those who find solutions first will occupy a strong position for a long time to come. We must step up our efforts and ingenuity in several areas: equipment, pest control, varietal development, post-harvest conservation techniques, and opening new markets, while addressing urgent issues such as water and labor shortages."
For more information:
Othmane Michbal
Les Domaines Zniber
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +212535 300 404