Cherry production in Aragon to exceed output of the previous two campaigns

According to recent data from the Ministry of Agriculture of Spain, Aragon held the top position in cherry production in 2022. The autonomous community recorded 13,253 hectares of cherry trees, surpassing Extremadura (9,702 ha) and Catalonia (2,982 ha). Aragon's cherry cultivation comprised both dry land (4,115 hectares) and irrigated land (9,138 hectares).

Data from the Union of Farmers and Ranchers of Aragon (UAGA) indicates that 48,600 tons of cherries were harvested in Aragon last year. Forecasts indicate that this year's harvest will exceed the previous two years, affected by spring frosts in areas such as Ricla, Calatayud, and Bolea.

In Ricla, specifically, over 7,000,000 kilos of cherries have been supplied to the market this season through 30 companies, with the product becoming available in mid-May.

Pedro Cabañero, Ricla’s agriculture council, reports that cherries this year have been priced between 7 and 8 euros per kilo in the national market, which is unusual, as cherries are normally sold for around 2 euros per kilo. In the Jerte valley, issues such as cracked cherries and smaller sizes have been observed, affecting the market supply, as explained by Cabañero.