According to producers in Castile-Leon, which accounts for the largest share of Spain's production, red beetroot calibres are expected to be smaller this year, mainly due to the impact of the high temperatures registered early in the summer.
According to these sources, the high temperatures recorded in the second half of June and throughout July, 2.5 degrees above the all-time average, together with the almost total absence of rainfall in this period, caused the beetroot crop development to stop for several weeks.
Producers explain that this delay in the development process cannot be recovered before the harvest, thus the smaller sizes this year; however, quality is expected to be good.
Despite the increase in the acreage this season, professionals within the sector expect a reduction in the yield per hectare of the most demanded varieties of around 15 percent.