Spain's other important deciduous fruit area is the northern region. There, production for 
canning is centered in the province of Lerida, and production in the other areas is used mainly 
in the fresh market in Barcelona and for fresh fruit export. The climate in this area is a little 
colder than in the Levante, and with a little more precipitation. However, the use of irrigation 
has increased in the numerous valleys of this northern area, Peaches, pears, cherries, and 
apples are the main deciduous fruits grown. 
Climate 
Max. monthly Min, monthly 
average temperature average temperature 
Annual average rainfall (Aug.) (Jan.) 
Inches Degrees F., Degrees F., 
Saragossa (Aragon)........ 12 rc 42.1 
Barcelona (Catalonia)..... 23 75.6 48.9 
Valencia (Levante)......... 16 76.3 50.0 
Murcia (Levante)........... ll 79.3 50.4 
Clear days Cloudy days Overcast days 
per year per year per year 
DAT AGOSIS aifetecits ctlenieleioselesieisiee 128 183 54 
Bair celional gz caciicssiaieisteiere lel 92 190 83 
Wallenciareyisssrccnenessacseisests 139 170 56 
MiUr Clays st caciastem ister sis seveeesls 148 151 66 
Land Values 
In Spain, irrigated deciduous orchards or irrigated land suitable for orchards is extremely 
high priced, Producing apricot and peach orchards ranged from $5,000 to $10,000 per acre in 
the Murcia and Valencia areas. In the Murcia area, land suitable for irrigation but not irrigated 
was obtainable at about $100 per acre in 1960. 
Orchard Sizes 
Most of the deciduous orchards in Murcia are small--often less than an acre, There are 
some large orchards--most of which are owned or controlled by large canneries--but not on the 
scale as those of California. Fragmented land ownership, design of the irrigation system, and 
the high cost of land are expected to retard the development of economical-size units. 
Orchards in the Valencia area, for the most part, are larger, probably averaging 2 or 3 
acres. 
In the Murcia area, apricot trees are large and, in specialized orchards there are about 
80 trees per acre. In the adjoining Province of Albacete, the trees are even larger and the num- 
ber per acre is about 65. Inthe Valencia area the trees are smaller and, in specialized orchards, 
there are about 120 per acre, 
In the Murcia area, the peach trees are thin, upright, and closely spaced; specialized 
orchards contain about 160 per acre. In the Valencia area, the trees are somewhat larger and 
not so closely spaced, Plantings there average about 145 trees per acre. 
Raw Product Procurement 
Fresh deciduous fruit buying in Spain is unique. Apricots--by tree or orchard--are gen- 
erally bought before maturity and in some cases even while the trees are in bloom--on a weight 
basis, Peaches are bought later in the season, near maturity, but also while the fruit is still 
on the tree. The grower is paid an agreed price per pound for the estimated production at the 
time of sale. 
