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

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

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