The harvest of 'pera llimonera', a common pear variety, started this week in western Catalonia, anticipating a standard campaign with fruits of high quality. The Farmer's Union reports a production decrease of 30 to 40% in some areas, while Afrucat and the Climate Action Ministry project a 15% reduction, contrary to the Union's estimate. Overall, a 33% drop in pear production across all varieties is expected due to drought impacts, enhancing the size and market appeal of the surviving crop.
Jaume Gardeñas, a farmer from Alamús and a spokesperson for the Farmer's Union, noted a projected yield of 14 to 15,000 kilograms per hectare, down from the usual 25,000. Last season's high temperatures contributed to underdeveloped buds, subsequently improving the quality of the remaining pears. Segrià, in particular, faces a steeper production fall following early July hailstorms.
Source: catalannews.com