For now, there is a delay in the start of the season of between 5 and 7 days compared to last year, and of between 2 and 4 days compared to what would be considered normal. Given the harvesting schedule in all Spanish production regions, no overlaps are expected at the start.
As for the quality of the fruit, large calibres are expected due to the severe pruning carried out by some producers.
Furthermore, although the rate of new plantings is slowing down, a varietal conversion is still underway, replacing low quality varieties by others with more flavour. In the case of flat peaches, for example, producers are increasingly planting better varieties that help prevent rejections at destination.
Flat peach production volumes exceed those of round peaches for the first time and now represent 27% of Catalonia's total peach and nectarine production.
Meanwhile, a turning point is expected for nectarines, with stabilising production volumes thanks to the success of recent seasons.
For now, the actual impact of the frost registered in the morning of 9 April in Lleida is still unknown and will only be clear in in late April, when the thinning is done.
Prospects by provinces
Lleida
The slight increase in Lleida's production is due to the volumes from young plantations entering production. However, this growth will remain below the potential capacity, since there have been varietal conversions and some volumes should be lost because of the frost registered on 9 April.
Girona
The peach and nectarine harvest in Girona in 2015 is expected to fall due to the abandonment of plantations. The downward trend as regards the acreage continues.
Barcelona
For 2015, Barcelona expects a similar peach and nectarine production as in the previous year, when it was already quite good. The only reason for the slight drop in production volumes is a small reduction in the acreage.
Tarragona
Production in 2015 is expected to be slightly higher than in 2014, with the acreage for flat peaches and nectarines expanding mainly on the banks of the Ebro river. In coastal regions of Tarragona, declines in the acreage are expected and therefore also lower harvest volumes.
3% greater production to compensate for Italian drop
Manel considers that this 3% increase expected cannot be considered a negative fact, since it would compensate for the lower production volumes of a great European producer (Italy), which just like France in the past, currently registers a downward trend.
Russian veto offset by increased exports to other countries
Despite the Russian veto introduced in the summer of 2014, Catalonia's export volumes were record-breaking, growing by 1% and thus remaining, for the second consecutive year, ahead of Italian exports, the leading European producer of peaches and nectarines.
According to Manel Simon, director of Afrucat, "the decline in exports to the Russian market, which represented a drop of about 9%, was more than offset by the 23% growth in other traditional markets, such as Germany, the UK, Eastern Europe, Italy, Brazil and North Africa." Furthermore, Manel states that "Catalan exporters seek to increase shipments to South America, Asia, Africa and North Africa."
"We are well positioned in the market, with a specialisation on flat peaches which has taken us to a leading position. We are practically the only European-producing region that is able to supply enough volumes to cover any consumer needs," concludes Simon.