Almond production in Mallorca up 20 percent

Last year saw an increase in almond production of 20%, when compared with 2010 figures. Typically fifty per cent of Mallorca almonds are then exported abroad, with Germany and Belgium being the largest consumers.

Almond trees were first grown on Mallorca in the 19th century after the wine industry was hit by the phylloxera plague. Grape vines were pretty much wiped out and many Mallorcan farmers decided to plant almond trees in their place. There are now an estimated 5 million almond trees on Majorca, covering 55,000 hectares of land, making almonds one of the major crops of the island.

Whilst the production figures are clearly good news for farmers, there is a worrying trend behind the increase. The price for almonds fell by between 10 and 15% during the course of 2011. The drop means that the almonds are not always harvested and this harms the almond trees. In a reversal of fortunes, some producers are now choosing to replace their almonds trees with olive trees and grape vines.

Read more about Traditional Local Produce of Mallorca in our food and drink guide.