The stone fruit campaign is currently in full swing in Catalonia, with average prices around 25% higher than at this same time last year due to strong demand in Europe and a moderate supply from the producing countries of the Mediterranean arc.
Production is expected to be around 4% lower compared to the 2024 season, according to Afrucat's figures. We are talking about a 2% drop compared to the first estimates, a result of the impact of 8 hailstorms recorded in various areas. Still, stone fruit production in 2025 will be 13% higher than the average of the last five years, as there have been years of very low production due to the impact of frost and hail, as was the case in 2022.
© Joel Pitarch | FreshPlaza.com
"This year, the adverse weather conditions have taken place early, between April and May. Although some growers have suffered direct losses, others were hit before the thinning tasks, so they've been able to recover their production acceptably," says Manel Simon, director of Afrucat.
The stone fruit season has so far been marked by smooth sales and good prices in Murcia and Extremadura, and the transition to northern Spain, to Catalonia and Aragon, which account for the largest productions, has been just as smooth, with a good balance between supply and demand.
"Stone fruit consumption has been boosted by the high temperatures recorded across Europe. There has been a recovery in the harvests of other European countries, but there is no abundant supply, in any case, taking also into account the fact that third countries such as Turkey have recorded significant reductions," says Simon.
"So, prices have remained at acceptable levels since the beginning of the season, with an average 25% higher than in the same period last year, and an upward trend over the last two weeks for some products, such as small-sized nectarines for basket formats. Hardly anything is kept in stock; harvest and sales quickly follow each other, and that's really good for summer fruit. In some formats, our supply is running short, and this is why we are focusing on the most loyal clients," says the Director of Afrucat. "We expect the market situation to remain good in the coming weeks," he says.
According to Manel Simon, the pome fruit season is also expected to have a good start. "The pear season is now over and there are no stocks left, because this year we've had a shorter campaign due to flowering problems in the previous crop, so the next harvest will start with a clean market. Initial estimates point to a partial recovery in production capacity, with 90% more Conference pear, whose supply had been significantly reduced last year. There are also hardly any apple stocks left ahead of the start of the harvests in August."
For more information:
Afrucat
C/ Corregidor Escofet, 64
25005 Lleida - Spain
Tel.: +34 973 22 01 49
www.afrucat.com/ca/
