The Alicante province cherry sector is nearing a pivotal moment as it moves toward a new harvest cycle. After five challenging years, producers anticipate a record-breaking season with an expected harvest surpassing four million kilograms. Flowering is progressing strongly despite limited rainfall and previous pollination hurdles, raising hopes for a robust campaign. With production likely to range between four and five thousand contracts, employment in orchards and processing facilities is expected to rise as activity increases.
Cherries remain highly sensitive to adverse weather, and recent campaigns have been tough. Rain can crack fruit at peak maturity, while cold spells and rainfall during flowering can hamper pollination. The combination of these factors led to the most damaging campaign on record, with losses exceeding seven million euros last year due to a prolonged twenty-day storm and hail during harvest. Yet the outlook for this year has improved markedly as conditions stabilize and optimism grows.
Hilario Calabuig, president of the Denomination of Origin Cerezas Montaña de Alicante, cautions that there is never a moment to declare victory in this crop because outcomes hinge on many variables. Still, current weather is favorable and flowering is advancing well, suggesting a potential for a strong campaign. Alberto Llorens, a technician at Cooperativa de Planes, shares the view that the season looks favorable because rainfall last year supported bee activity, and their absence this year would have been detrimental, underscoring the importance of pollination and good weather. He adds that careful monitoring will be needed to prevent any setbacks.
The main caveat remains a possible delay in flowering. If the season holds, higher early-season prices will provide some relief and help the harvest, which will begin later than the Jerte Valley production area, around May 10. The overall yield could push past eight million euros, though predictions remain uncertain and subject to weather in the weeks ahead.
Meeting these expectations would offer a much-needed revival for an industry that faced tough cycles in recent years. Calabuig notes that disillusionment can push younger generations away from farming, a trend compounded by the erosion of intergenerational knowledge. The industry hopes that positive forecasts will translate into better employment prospects across harvesting work and within cooperative structures, both during the peak season and throughout the campaign.
The production region centers on l’Alcoià, El Comtat, Marina Alta, and Alto Vinalopó, spanning roughly 1,600 hectares in total. Beyond agriculture, the flowering period adds to the area’s appeal as a floristry destination, attracting visitors through nearby hotels and restaurants and contributing to local tourism and economic activity.
Asaja Alicante reinforces its commitment to generational renewal in farming. The association is reviving an agricultural training program previously offered by the Ministry and not run for 15 years. The objective is to promote intergenerational innovation at a moment when rising costs, limited water resources, and higher inputs challenge new entrants into farming. The program blends in-person and online sessions, offered free of charge from Asaja’s headquarters in Elche on May 2. Completing the 100-hour course would qualify participants for initial setup assistance, a component supported by the Ministry of Agriculture via marked educational initiatives. [Attribution: Asaja Alicante program and Ministry collaboration]