A good stone fruit campaign is expected this year in the area of Lleida, Spain, as the Winter was cold enough and, according to Jordi Dolcet, General Director of Fruits de Ponent, this has allowed fruit trees to rest and to be well-prepared for the new campaign.
"It is also worth noting that in some of our production areas hailstorms damaged the fruit last season, so in addition to the improvements made in our productive capacity, volumes will also increase with the recovery of last season's losses," he says.
In late May, the first cherries will start being harvested, although "in terms of stone fruit, we should reach our full potential during the first half of June."
"The flowering conditions in our productive area have been excellent, as we suffered no frosts. It was quite the opposite; temperatures so far have been very mild and this will lead to outstanding fruit settling. So the fruit will be of the exceptionally good quality that our customers have come to expect," he points out.
Based in Alcarràs, in the province of Lleida, Fruits de Ponent has a total of 2,600 hectares devoted to the production of pears, apples, and to a great extent, stone fruit.
With a turnover of 32,918,690.79 Euro at the end of the previous financial year on 31 May 2012, Fruits de Ponent's objectives are to continue ensuring quality and good sanitary conditions for its production, as well as to innovate with new varieties. "We will continue renovating our plantations to be able to produce the best varieties at all times."
Meanwhile, the expansion process for Fruits de Ponent's processing plant is underway, with a new warehouse and a classifying machine. "This way we will adapt better to the new products for the coming campaign to be able to continue offering the good service and promptness in all our deliveries that our customers have always received."
Fruits de Ponent's main markets are Germany and England, but we can find the firm's stone fruit in many other countries all over the world. "In fact, regardless of where our fruit is demanded, we will have the desire and capacity to be present; therefore, as far as any worldwide market is concerned, we have already either gained presence or could gain it in the future," concludes Jordi Dolcet.
For more information:
Jordi Dolcet
Maria Jesús Sisó
