Tropical and subtropical fruits in Spain.
Galán Saúco V., FarréMassip J. M.
Author Affiliation: Departamento de Fruticultura Tropical, Instituto Canario de Investigaciones Agrarias (ICIA), Apartado de Correos 60, La Laguna 38200 Tenerife, Spain.
: 259-264
Abstract : Spain is the main EU producer of tropical and subtropical fruits and the only country on the continent itself currently capable of growing them. As consolidated crops, Spain produces avocados (over 10?000 ha planted, yielding some 70?000 t/year), bananas (production restricted to the Canary Islands; around 9500 ha, of which some 3000 are under greenhouse, yielding 420?000 t/year), and cherimoyas (roughly 3000 ha and 33?000 t/year). Mangos (almost 1400 ha) and pawpaw (around 200 ha, practically all under greenhouse) show great potential for future development. Pineapple is steady at around 75 ha, both in open air and greenhouse plantations and, again, limited to the Canary Islands. Experimental plantings of litchi show good prospects. Minor crops under evaluation include carambola and guava. A review of the actual situation, problems and prospects, as well as the main lines of research, is highlighted in this paper.