Early start for Catalonia: good prices, but forecasts reveal less harvest for 2024

16 May 2024
1468

In Catalonia, the cherry harvest season commenced a few days back in the earliest regions. Initially, there were expectations for an early start to harvesting, but this didn't materialize due to a sudden drop in temperatures. Recent rainfall did cause some damage to early varieties being gathered, albeit not significantly.

“Our cherry campaign officially launched on April 8th, introducing varieties cultivated under plastic. Subsequently, on April 28th, we initiated the marketing of our first open-ground cherries,” shared David Manero, a key figure at Cerima Cherries.

“Compared to the previous year, we initiated the process a few days earlier, with last year's harvest commencing on May 4th. While we could have begun earlier, given the unusually warm spring until a fortnight ago, the abrupt temperature decline altered our plans," he explained.

“Recent days brought between 12 to 15 liters per square meter of precipitation to our production zones, potentially impacting certain varieties like Mimba, already in harvest mode. However, we anticipate this won't drastically affect our supply volumes, ensuring seamless service to our clientele,” assured David Manero.

Anticipations suggest a diminished cherry yield this year, as per the insights from producers and traders. “This season, we foresee a decrease in early cherry production. Normalcy in harvest is projected by the second or third week of May, albeit at levels lower than the preceding season,” he added.

“The season kickstarted favorably in terms of market prices. Despite primarily harvesting in May and June, our diverse variety offerings align well with the current market dynamics in Europe," highlighted David Manero.

Attribution: FreshPlaza
Image Source: Cerima Cherries


Cherry Times - Reserved Rights

What to read next

In Apulia (IT), early harvest for the Bigarreau variety

Production

30 Apr 2024

Giacomo Giotta, owner of the eponymous company in Conversano, is preparing to start harvesting the Bigarreau variety next weekend, about two weeks earlier than last year. Yields seem to be higher, with an increase of 20-25%.

IG International brings first Chilean cherries to India

Markets

14 Nov 2024

Indian importer IG International has announced the arrival in India of the first seasonal shipment of premium-quality Chilean cherries. This is the first shipment of Chilean cherries to the Indian market, arriving in the first week of November.

In evidenza

Sour cherry powder: benefits and uses of the new superfood compared to traditional juice

Health

29 Dec 2025

Sour cherry powder is a superfood rich in antioxidants, beneficial for sleep, muscles and inflammation. In this article, we discover how it is obtained, how it is used, how it differs from juice and why it is gaining a central role in modern healthy diets.

EU cherry consumption on the rise: 2024 set to be a record year for the last decade

Consumption

26 Dec 2025

In 2024, cherry consumption in the European Union reached 629,000 tonnes, marking a +4.5% increase on an annual basis and reaching its highest level in ten years. Production, imports and exports are also growing, with Italy and Spain among the leading countries.

Tag Popolari