According to data from Afrucat and DARPA (Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Food), Lleida will harvest 2% less peaches and nectarines (356,930 t), Tarragona 5% less (16,450 t), Barcelona 7% more (2,480 t), and Girona 2% more (935 t).
Despite seven hailstorms in the Lleida area in less than a month, this would be the third consecutive year with decent productive potential, after campaigns with very low yields (2020, 2021 and 2022) and severe climate impacts. Blooming lasted long, with normal to abundant fruit set in Lleida and normal levels in Tarragona. Fruit size is average and thinning needs are normal to high (in hail-affected areas, thinning has helped remove much of the damaged fruit).
Afrucat also notes that this will be a campaign marked by a shortage of stone fruit across Europe—already evident with the rising demand for apricots.
Andreu Viladegut, president of the Stone Fruit Committee, stresses the need to protect crops to face climate change and ensure continued production and market supply.
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According to Jaume Feixa, DARPA’s regional director, “efforts are underway to make investments in anti-hail nets and frost prevention systems more attractive to growers.”
The assessment of hailstorm damage is still ongoing, so forecasts may change. Figures will be updated in June depending on how fruit sizing and thinning evolve.
