Spanish lemon production will fall sharply in 2015/16 compared to last season according to the first forecasts released by Ailimpo. Initial estimates peg the crop at 850,400 tonnes, a 23 per cent decrease on last year’s record 1.1m tonne harvest.
Ailimpo said the fall is due to adverse weather conditions during blossoming and fruitset that resulted in less fruits per tree. Planted area remains unchanged from 2014/15.
Volumes of Fino lemons are projected to fall by 17 per cent, with the latter stages of the season registering the biggest decrease. For Verna lemons the shortfall is likely to be more severe. Initial estimates suggest production could fall by as much as 38 per cent, although Ailimpo said this estimate would be revised in January once the effects of autumn and winter rainfall have been evaluated.
In spite of the fall on last year’s total, Ailimpo noted that production would be in line with the average for the past seven years.
“The Southern Hemisphere season is due to end somewhat later this year so ideally we’d like harvesting to start at the end of September or beginning of October which would allow the market time to clear,” Ailimpo said.
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