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Date Published: 13/10/2026

Early Alicante grapes and shrinking Valencian orange harvests face a challenging year

Wine grape production is expected to fall sharply, while Valencian citrus growers face continuing pressure from overseas imports

The intense heat experienced across eastern Spain this year has brought Alicante’s wine grape harvest forward to the earliest start ever recorded, according to the Young Farmers’ Association of Alicante, Asaja Alicante.

The association says the extreme temperatures have accelerated the ripening process, forcing growers to begin picking earlier than usual. The heat has also caused serious concerns over yields, with Asaja Alicante estimating that only around 13 million kilos of wine grapes will be harvested.

The forecast extends a run of disappointing harvests in recent seasons. Asaja says the latest figures further highlight the “gradual decline in the wine grape harvest”, with excessive heat now adding to the difficulties already caused by water shortages.

The picture is not entirely negative. The Alicante Protected Designation of Origin considers the quality of the grapes to be exceptional, despite the reduced volume.

José Juan Reus, president of the Alicante PDO, said very little remained to be picked and placed the likely final harvest between 13 and 15 million kilos.

“Once again the harvest has dwindled, but the grape quality is exceptional and the wineries will know how to turn it into flavourful, exquisite wines,” Reus said.

The unusually hot conditions come after what the State Meteorological Agency, Aemet, described as the hottest summer in Alicante’s history. Farmers have had to contend not only with limited water supplies, but also relentless heat and intense sunshine.

Citrus production remains below past levels

The pressure on agriculture is also being felt in the Valencian citrus sector. Spain’s initial forecast for the current citrus campaign is almost 5.75 million tonnes, an increase of 1.1% compared with last year.

However, last year’s harvest was the lowest in a decade, and the latest estimate remains almost 20% below the production recorded ten years ago.

The main harvest gets under way as autumn temperatures begin to fall, although some early varieties started appearing in shops in early September. The season is expected to continue until May, when later varieties such as Ortanique are picked.

Growers are also concerned about competition from outside the European Union, particularly South Africa and Egypt. During the 2024 to 2025 season, South Africa supplied more than 600,000 tonnes of oranges, mandarins and clementines to the EU, while Egypt supplied 370,000 tonnes.

Cristóbal Aguado, president of Ava-Asaja, said these imports were arriving during the main Valencian growing season rather than simply filling gaps at other times.

“Instead of complementing European production, they are replacing it and driving it out of their own market,” he said.

A study by La Unió Llauradora found that 10 of 12 batches of South African citrus tested in Valencian supermarkets contained at least one pesticide banned in Europe. The organisation is calling for stronger checks, while Ava-Asaja wants the EU to review its trade agreements with countries including South Africa and Egypt.

Image: Valentin Ivantsov/Pexels

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