Almonds of Mallorca

The privileged surroundings, the Mediterranean climate and the dry farming crop system gives the Mallorcan almond its unique characteristics. Its sweet taste, a greater content of proteins, fatty acids and carbohydrates, make this a universally desired product, used in a great variety of foods.

The main area of production of the almond on Mallorca is in the central-west, particularly Marratxí, Bunyola, Santa Maria, Sencelles, Lloseta and Selva amongst others. This area, due to its microclimate is the most productive of Mallorca. The South West also deserves special mention with the municipalities of Manacor, Sant Llorenç and Son Servera.

The almond crop is collected between the end of August and beginning of September. Nowadays nearly all the harvest is carried out mechanically via machines that have large pincers that surround the trunk and shake the tree to make the ripe fruit fall down. However, on Mallorca, there are many small cultivations and there are still people who pick by hand, hitting the branches with long sticks.

The last harvest was of 4,200 tons of almond nut. The price of the almond, as in all prime materials, fluctuates according to supply and demand, although it is a very speculative market and many factors influence it. At the moment there is no market price. Everyone is waiting for the blossom to end and the first estimates can be known. If the blossom goes well without frost, it will mean that the crop will be good and prices will be low. If the opposite occurs, the prices will go up. The price at the beginning of the campaign in August last year oscillated between 300 and 330 pesetas per kilo of nut.

At present, the firm Almendras de Mallorca, S.L. (ALMASA) processes the majority of the Mallorcan almond crop, with the main market sales going to Germany, France, Holland, Portugal, Greece, Italy and Spain.

NOTE: We thank Virginia Cortés of Almasa for the documents supplies to create this article. On asking her for information she commented: "The truth is that it is a good moment to talk about almonds because the trees are in flower. Lovely! Do you know that in Germany special trips are organised just to see the almond blossom?"

Datum: 16/02/2000

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