Rises in Spain’s strawberry, tomato crops

Spain’s raspberry crop is expected to be 13.1% higher this year, relative to 2015, reaching 19,000 tons, while that of strawberries is set to rise 7.9% to 342,700 tons.

The latest – and very preliminary – estimates for Spain’s 2016 fruit and vegetable harvest from the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and the Environment (Magrama) – as at the end of April – also show that the total of tomatoes harvested Jan 1-May 31 is forecast to be up 3.9%, to more than 1.08 million tons, despite a 1.9% reduction in planted area.

In the potato category, the very early crop is poised for a slight (1.6%) rise, to 105,700 tons, while the earlies crop slips 1%, to 415,300 tons, with similar variations in their relative planted areas.

As for onions, the babosa should rally 14.6% on last year, to 212,100 tons, according to the first estimates, and when it comes to mushrooms, the champignon (white button) crop is in line to come in 9% higher, at 132,700 tons, but the total for other mushrooms is tipped to decline by 3.5%, to 15,100 tons. The asparagus crop is forecast to grow by 8.6%, to 57,500 tons, and that of eggplant 5.3% to 259,700 tons.