MADRID: The first lemon harvest estimate by AILIMPO for the upcoming 2016/2017 campaign points to a production in Spain totalling 980,000 tonnes, an increase of 22% compared to last season, which will come to an end in late August with an approximate production totalling 802,680 tonnes.
With this data, the sector returns to the path of normality, with a harvest volume close to one million tonnes, largely due to the progressive entry into production of new plantations. It is important to note that the special weather conditions this year, with virtually no winter and a long spring, have had a noticeable impact on lemon cultivation, preventing reaching the figure that reflects the crop’s current real potential when looking at the acreage and the number of planted trees, which is estimated at around 1.2 million tonnes.
This 22% growth of the lemon harvest will allow Spain to continue consolidating its hegemonic market position in Europe, where it maintains an unquestionable leadership, with a market share exceeding 80%.
