The cherimoya acreage has remained virtually stable in recent years, according to the Council of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development of the Government of Andalusia. With 3,134 hectares of crops in the 2014 campaign, Andalusia accounts for 99% of the total national acreage. The crops concentrate mainly on the Costa Tropical of Granada (92%), followed by Malaga with only 7%. Just about 15 years ago, cherimoyas were considered one of the province's flagship crops in the resurgent tropical sector, which has not stopped growing and has finally become standard for Malaga's agriculture, together with citrus fruits and olives. However, the tropical sector has focused primarily on two main crops: avocados and mangoes, which have recorded major growth in recent years. The cherimoya farms in the Guadalhorce Valley and the Axarquía have been transformed over the past two decades, to the point that the cultivation of cherimoyas is now almost negligible in Malaga.
This year's campaign has just started with prices hovering around 2 Euro per kilo, according to the Andalusian Price Observatory; however, these prices are not representative of the reality during the campaign, when they oscillate between 0.80 and 1.20 Euro per kilo. In the 2013-2014 season, the average price at origin stood at 0.68 Euro per kilo, while in 2014-2015 it stood at 0.75 Euro.
In fact, it is precisely the prices of this tropical fruit, of which Andalusia is the largest producer, which are causing Malaga's producers to almost completely abandon the crop. The price of cherimoyas is determined by the seasonality of the fruit, with production peaking during the months of October and November, when prices fall. From December onwards, prices start recovering and they do so until the end of the season, although sales volumes are lower, according to the Council of Agriculture. Currently, the campaign lasts until the end of May, thanks to the production of cherimoyas in spring.
Harvest
Thanks to the commitment of Granada's growers, the cherimoya production has doubled in the last ten years, going from 22,390 tonnes in 2004 to 45,000 tonnes in 2014. This season, the harvest is expected to reach between 45,000 and 50,000 tonnes.
The sector has the Protected Designation of Origin 'Chirimoya de la Costa Tropical de Granada-Málaga', whose geographical area comprises the Granada municipalities of Motril, Vélez de Benaudalla, Los Guájares, Itrabo, Molvízar, Salobreña, Almuñécar, Jete, Lentejí and Otivar. In the province of Malaga, the PDO covers the productions of Nerja, Frigiliana, Torrox, Algarrobo and Vélez-Málaga.
Two main varieties are produced: Fino de Jete (95% of the acreage) and Campas.
For the past two years, some producers have been testing the Alboran variety, obtained by the Institute of Subtropical and Mediterranean Horticulture (IHSM) La Mayora de Algarrobo, although the results have yet to be assessed. In theory, it has the advantages of providing more sweetness, increased resistance for transportation and fewer seeds.
While in sectors such as avocados and mangoes, most of the production is intended for foreign markets, in the case of cherimoyas 90% of the fruit is sold on the domestic market, and only 10% is shipped overseas.
According to the Government of Andalusia, the cherimoya production reached a value of 35 million Euro in 2015, compared to 30.5 million in 2014.
Source: diariosur.es
