Record Pistachio Harvest in Spain

Spain's pistachio industry is witnessing unprecedented growth, with the crop emerging as one of the most lucrative for farmers due to its high market price and low water requirements. This year, Castilla-La Mancha, responsible for 80 percent of the national production and cultivated area, is expected to quadruple last year's harvest, reaching a total of 8,900 tonnes. This is being hailed as a "historic" yield, according to Ignacio Lobato, spokesperson for the Pistachio Sectoral Commission within the Agro-food Cooperatives of Castilla-La Mancha.

Behind this impressive figure lies a key indicator of the crop's appeal to farmers: the cultivation area for this nut has expanded by 5,500 hectares over the past year in the region. In terms of quality, a significant quantity of large-sized pistachios is anticipated.

This relatively new crop in Spain is also seeing a rise in the area dedicated to organic production, "reflecting both the growing demand for organic pistachios and the farmers' commitment to environmentally friendly agricultural practices," says Ignacio Lobato. He also highlights the resilience of this product, noting that "no significant health issues have been reported that could affect the quality of the harvest. Moreover, favourable weather conditions, barring some hail damage in certain cultivation areas, have created an ideal environment for pistachio development, resulting in a high percentage of large-sized pistachios."

According to this agricultural organisation, the sector faces several challenges: promoting business concentration processes, developing a strategic plan, and obtaining quality recognition figures such as protected geographical indications (PGI).