Storm Ciril struck at a moment when farmers were hoping to recover from a difficult year, following the March rains. The subsequent Arctic cold snap erased a large portion of the stone fruit harvest overnight and threatened the majority of almond and cherry production in the province. Antonio Gascón, who leads Agricultural Insurance at ASAJA Alicante, estimated that the early frost on Sunday, April 3, caused the initial losses. The region faced agricultural losses totaling more than 22 million euros, and ASAJA Alicante notes with disappointment that many farmers lack contractual insurance coverage.
Climate records from the province show temperatures dipping to negative values in the early hours of 2-3 April, with Villena recording -2.7 degrees and other inland areas staying below freezing for extended periods. Frost affected large plantations in Alto Vinalopó, L’Alcoià, El Comtat, and parts of Marina Alta.
Among crops, stone fruits such as peach, cherry, apricot, and to a lesser extent plum, along with almond trees, bore the brunt of the frost.
70% cherry
The cherry trees had already suffered from prior rains that ruined the bloom. ASAJA reports numerous parcels with damage nearing 100% of production. In these regions there are 1,722 hectares planted, with an estimated production of 5,650 tons. In the first assessment, Gascón puts the average damage near 70%, translating to roughly 4,000,000 kilograms in losses. If the average price remains around 1.8 euros per kilo, the frost could have caused about 7.2 million euros in losses.
Nearly 12 million losses in almond trees
For almonds, about 9,000 hectares are cultivated in these zones, with roughly 80% affected by the cold. With an estimated production of 7,000 tons, the potential loss reaches 5,600,000 kilograms. At a field price of 2.10 euros per shell, the almond losses could climb to about 11.76 million euros, according to the ASAJA Alicante expert.
Ciril freezes semi-fruit harvest
Apricots and peaches are grown on approximately 415 hectares within the frost-affected area, with a potential production of around 6,300 tonnes. Gascón estimates about 50% damage, equating to a loss of around 3,150,000 kilograms. Field prices around 0.80 euros per kilo suggest frost damage costs near 2.52 million euros.
Four days after the event, plums appear to be the least affected. The cultivation area is about 270 hectares with an anticipated production of 5,000 tonnes. Estimated damage could reach 30% of production, implying a loss of about 1,500,000 kilograms and a value near 750,000 euros at approximately 0.50 euros per kilo, according to ASAJA Alicante.”
No damage on Vega Baja
In contrast, the southern part of the province escaped the storm’s effects. The coastal plain, maintaining a minimum of five degrees Celsius over the weekend, shielded citrus, fruit trees, almonds, and vegetables from frost that threatened interior regions of the peninsula and continental Europe. José Vicente Andreu, president of ASAJA Alicante, highlighted Vega Baja’s strategic position, noting that irrigation makes it one of the safest areas for food production. He warned that the arctic cold wave jeopardized fruit and almond crops from southern Spain to the Alps, including the French Mediterranean coast. Andreu argued that Europe’s vegetable garden has long been a guarantor of continental food security, and he criticized government policy and ministers perceived as pushing to reduce water transfers, which he said could restrict irrigation and threaten agricultural output in the region.”