The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development and Asociafruit have agreed in a meeting, held in Seville, to urge the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food to include actions in the operational programs that allow an increase in the production of peaches, nectarine, donut peaches, platerina, and flat peaches.
According to the general secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food, Consolacion Vera, “the requests made by the Andalusian administration in this regard have not received favorable responses.” "The Ministry will continue to insist on this demand since all the technical reports show that there is no case in which the production of these stone fruits in Andalusia distorts the market," Vera stated. She also highlighted that these species are harvested much earlier than the rest of the national productions.
This precocity means that Andalusia has early and extra-early crops compared to other regions. In addition, the area devoted to these plantations in Andalusian only accounts for 6% of the national total, Vera stated. According to the representative of the Andalusian Government, "this decision is limiting competitiveness in the sector and reducing its capacity for growth.
Stone fruit trees in Andalusia
Andalusia has 7,980 hectares of stone fruit trees, peaches, nectarines, plums, cherries, and apricots, according to the latest 2021 data, which produce some 96,300 tons of early and extra-early fruit thanks to the region's climatic conditions.
Aragon accounts for 26% of the national surface and Catalonia for 18%. Together, they account for more than 40% of the national production, while Andalusia only accounts for 6% of the national surface and production.
Granada is Andalusia's main producer of stone fruit, and the region's leading producer of cherries, peaches, nectarine, and apricots, despite the smaller size of this fruit in the community. It is followed by Seville where peaches and nectarines stand out.
For more information:
Consejería de Agricultura, Pesca, Agua y Desarrollo Rural
www.juntadeandalucia.es