Spain: Reaping the rewards of grape harvest

Tenerife is expecting a bumper grape harvest. All the signs are pointing to a fantastic 2008 with yields across the island being substantially up on the previous year. Early predictions suggest the grape harvest will bring in an extra two million kilos, with growers picking about 5.4 million kilos, compared with 3.34 million kilos in 2007.

However, the president of the Association of Grape-growers and Bodegueros of the Canary Islands, Juan Jesus Méndez is even more optimistic and believes the figure could soar to as high as seven million kilos. The grape harvest is about ten days in advance of the usual season in the coastal zones and a week ahead elsewhere.

The area around Tacoronte is seeing an enormous growth of 72 per cent to 1.5 million kilos and the fruit is said to be healthy and maturing correctly. La Orotava has also seen good conditions and is estimating one million kilos, about double that of 2007.

Other zones not so affected by the heatwave are still seeing production about 30 per cent up. The high quality and excellent health of the grapes is also reflected in the Guimar valley.

Source: tenerifenews.com