The citrus production in Spain this campaign will reach the 7,292,692 tons, a greater volume than those recorded in the five previous seasons. This has been revealed in the first report from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA).
The predicted citrus production stands 10.1% above the average for the period between the 2013/14 and 2017/18 campaigns (6,623,979 t), and 14.2% above last season's volume (6,386,210 t).
The Ministry estimates the sweet orange production of 3,718,252 tons (+10.4% compared to the previous season), to which we must add 2,365,022 tons (+18.5%) of small citrus fruits; 1,108,094 tons (+19.4%) of lemons; 83,023 tons (+6.4%) of grapefruit and 18,299 tons (+19.7%) of other citrus fruits.
Although there have been "some problems with the calibers in the early harvests due to water shortages," the MAPA states in its study that "in general, the fruit has very good characteristics, even if it is arriving a little later than usual."
Given this, the Valencian Association of Agricultural Producers (AVA-ASAJA) has asked the Council of Agriculture for the development and implementation of a plan to encourage the withdrawal from the fresh market of citrus with excessively small calibers.
Regarding lemons, it is highlighted that "there has been a great recovery of the production," thanks in part to the expansion of the acreage.
Source: agroinformacion.com