<p>Cooperativas Agro-alimentarias of Castile-La Mancha has announced its estimates for the nut harvest volume in the 2015/2016 season, which reveal a 30% increase in the production compared to last season. Prospects point to a production of 7,662 tonnes of grain almond, which is 34.4% more than last season, as well as 1,500 tonnes of pistachio, i.e. 36.4 % more than in 2014. <br></p> <p>By almond varieties, increased production is expected for the Comuna, with 4,478 tonnes, i.e. 40% more than last season, followed by the Largueta, with 2,864 tonnes, 33.2% up; however, the Marcona's production is set to drop compared to 2014, with 320 tonnes, i.e. 10.1% less. <br></p> <p>Hectares and prices <br></p><p>As stated by the Cooperativas sector technician, Jesús Ángel Peñaranda, "the almonds' development has been good, hence the higher production expected, despite the dry summer and hail damage in some areas." Also, Castile-La Mancha's almond acreage stands at 62,410 hectares; however, the estimation has been based on the 59,408 hectares declared in the CAP 2013, "since the increase in the acreage is due to the setting up of new plantations in the region this year which have yet to become productive." <br></p> <p>Regarding pistachios, 5,296.83 hectares were declared in the 2014 CAP, and of these some 1,900 are considered to be in full production. As for prices, those of almonds have remained very high until early September, with few variations (between 8.5 and 10 Euro/kilo, depending on variety and type of production: conventional or organic). However, in September there was a slight downward trend which resulted in a drop of between 0.7 and 1 Euro/kilo.<br></p> <p>In the case of pistachios, prices range between 6 and 9 Euro/kilo, depending on the calibre and the type of production (conventional or organic). In any case, prices have tended to remain stable.<br></p> <p>Almond and pistachio: booming crops <br></p> <p>Both almonds and pistachios have experienced a real boost in Castile-La Mancha, especially almonds. Acreage in the region has been rapidly expanding; the crops have gone "from being set up on small marginal plots to being established on larger plots with a better agronomic quality." <br></p> <p>Demand to be able to set up new almond plantations is so high that it has become very difficult to find plants, "unless orders are made months in advance. Compared to last year, this is resulting in an increase of around 50 Euro in the cost per unit of grafted plants," affirms Jesús Ángel Peñaranda. <br></p> <p>The most demanded varieties for these new plantings are those of late blooming, such as the Penta or Marinada, followed at some distance by others with not as late blooming, such as the Guara, Ferragnès, Ferraduel, Antoñeta, etc.</p><p>Albacete is the province with the greatest number of new almond plantations, as it accounts for around 58% of the new almond acreage registered in Castile-La Mancha. In the region, between 2013 and 2014, the almond acreage has expanded by about 3,000 hectares. <br></p> <p>Regarding pistachios, "while they are still a very new crop for the region and the acreage is still not very large, they have registered an increase of more than 900 hectares in 2014, compared to 2013." The acreage of new plantations is also increasing year after year, since between 2012 and 2013 the pistachio acreage grew by 450 hectares.<br></p>