Catalonia's stonefruit production is expected to be 13% greater than last year, reaching 407,920 tonnes, which means that the Catalan productive potential lost in recent seasons will be recovered.
Analysing the data by areas, we find that the increase is recorded in all but the Girona demarcation, where there is a 7% drop, down to 1,800 tonnes. Meanwhile, Lleida achieves a 14% increase and will reach 362,600 tonnes; Tarragona grows by 5% to 37,300 tonnes, and Barcelona's production is up 6% to 6,220 tonnes.
The increase affects all fruits, with nectarines and flat peaches growing the most, with 15 and 16%, respectively.
As in recent seasons, the pace of new plantings continues to decline and the total acreage planted has increased only slightly. The number of new hectares is almost equal to the total abandoned. The number of hectares planted with flat peaches, meanwhile, continues to be higher than that of round peaches. The pavia recovers slightly after years of reductions in the acreage and there is also growth in the number of hectares planted with nectarines, while round peaches record a downward trend.
This forecast entails that Catalonia will have a normal production year, with a harvest season within schedule, without overlapping of the various productive areas and with initial prices for the production of the early areas above those reached last year.