According to trade sources, Murcia had more than 1.2 million apricot trees in 1960, and 
additional plantings were planned. 
In the Province of Valencia, specialized apricot acreage also about tripled, increasing from 
692 acres in 1950 to 2,051 in 1958. As in Murcia, the increase in total number of apricot trees-- 
from 169,700 to 353,200 in the 9-year period--occurred largely through plantings in specialized 
acreage. 
In the Murcia area, the Bulida variety of apricot--used almost entirely for canning--is 
the heaviest bearing in Spain. It is well thought of also because of its natural richness, aroma, 
and flavor. It holds up well in canning. According to Spanish canners, the Bulida grown in the 
Murcia area is superior to that variety grown in any other part of the world. Other apricot 
varieties include Canino, Paviet, Mauricios, and Monequi (or San Fernando). 
Flowering of the Bulida is usually so profuse that it is necessary to remove some of the 
blooms to insure large-size fruit and prevent damage to the trees. Average yield per tree is 
about 125 pounds and, in an ideal season, production will go above 165 pounds per tree. Average 
production per acre of apricots in specialized plantings is about 10,000 pounds of fresh fruit. 
In the Valencia area, apricot yield pertreeis somewhat lower, averaging about 100 pounds. 
But production per acre is larger, in the neighborhood of 12,000 pounds. This larger production 
per acre in Valencia is due mainly to more trees per acre and the smaller sized fruit. 
Peaches ° 
The acreage of specialized peach plantings increased gradually from 11,000 acres in 1939 
to 19,000 acres in 1955. However, freezes in 1955 and 1956 and some pullouts reduced acreage. 
Since that time, it accelerated again, and in 1958 was up to 15,000 acres. Total tree numbers 
also followed this pattern, but in 1958 they were estimated at 4,250,000--down about 10 percent 
from the high reached in 1955. 
Of course, following the reduction in trees, peach production dropped, but by 1960 had 
partially recovered to an estimated 102,500 short tons. 
Specialized peach orchard in Alcantarilla, 
Spain’s Murcia Province, which is the 
country’s principal fruit-canning area. 
Specialized peach orchard in early spring 
near Alcantarilla, Spain’s Murcia Province, 
the country’s principal fruit-canning 
area, which is noted for the excellence 
of its peaches and apricots, (Pictured in 
the foreground is a legume crop, Faba, 
grown widely in the Mediterranean for feed, 
A shift in the peach producing areas of Spain began to take place in the mid-1950's. 
Earlier, the Provinces of Tarragona and Murcia had gradually begun to increase their plantings 
of peaches but were far behind Barcelona, which produced 74,141 short tons in 1954 and had 1.8 
million peach trees with most of them planted in 10,452 acres of specialized orchards. Then, 
Barcelona suffered serious tree losses from freezes in 1955 and 1956. 
