3rd Report on the SPANISH LEMON Crop 2020/2021 Season

3rd Report on the SPANISH LEMON Crop 2020/2021 Season

VERNA Lemon production is estimated at 343,000 tonnes   

Murcia, 28th January 2021

The third AILIMPO lemon crop estimate for the 2020/2021 season confirms the figures published in the September report, and forecasts a total production estimate of 1,290,000 tonnes, broken down into 947,000 tonnes of Fino lemons and 343,000 tonnes of Verna lemons.

 The FINO lemon season will continue to develop in the first four months of 2021, although with a significant reduction in commercial quality fruit available, despite the total volume of available crop on the tree.

“The commercial supply of Fino lemons for the fresh market will be lower in the second part of the season, which could put pressure on the sales market.”

VERNA LEMON Outlook, the forecast points to a harvest of 343,000 tonnes in 2021, which would mean a very similar volume to that of the 2020 campaign with marketing starting from the month of May, which will allow Spain to consolidate itself as a reference supplier in Europe during the summer, with quality, sustainable lemon and excellent service.

“The harvest of verna lemons, a native Spanish variety, guarantees supply throughout the summer of 2021”.

In relation to processing, it is estimated that more than 25% of the harvest is destined for processing, an activity in which Spain is in 2nd place in the world ranking, with a wide range of juices, essential oil and dehydrated peel.

In addition, the GlobalGAP and GRASP certifications are key elements this season as part of the interprofessional’s strategy to differentiate Spanish lemons and to promote sustainable production with a triple focus: economic, environmental and social.

For the full press release, click here.

Upcoming Report: Ailimpo will confirm the 2020/2021 final crop as well as the preliminary forecast for 2021/2022 season on:

• Thursday, 30 September 2021

Note on Methodology: Ailimpo drew up this technical report following the working protocol, using information provided by surveys given to producers, cooperatives, exporters, and processing industries, in addition to field information from its control farms.

Ailimpo is a national inter-professional association, based in Murcia, officially recognised by the Ministry of Agriculture and the European Commission, which represents the economic interests of producers, cooperatives, exporters, and lemon and grapefruit industries in Spain, a sector in which Spain is the world leader for fresh product and 2nd in the ranking of processing countries, with a turnover of €700 million per year, generating 20,000 direct jobs, and a turnover of over €250 million in related industries.

The lemon sector contributes to environmental sustainability, with a positive net balance of 304,840 tonnes of CO2 captured per year.

By law, its functions include: Ensuring the proper operation of the food supply chain, Drawing up agri-food contracts and developing methods for monitoring and streamlining the use of phytosanitary products to guarantee the quality of the products and the protection of the environment, and Boosting and promoting quality and excellence standards in the sector