Mogadouro, Portugal, Aug. 7, 2026 (Lusa) - Organic almond growers in Portugal's north-east Tras-os-Montes region expressed optimism on Friday regarding the forthcoming harvest, which could see a 30% increase in production, as well as regarding the price paid per kilo.
Speaking to the Lusa news agency, Acácio Cordeiro, head of the Central and Northern Dry Fruit Farmers' Cooperative, based in Mogadouro, said that the prospects of a 30% increase in production forecast for the forthcoming organic almond harvest, coupled with a rise in price are positive indicators.
«With these positive forecasts for the harvest and the markets, we believe our farmers will be encouraged, as the last few years of production have been very poor and prices have been very low,» he emphasised.
The Central and Northern Dried Fruit Farmers' Cooperative is a producers' organisation with over 600 members from the regions of Bragança and Vila Real. It harvests, on average, one million kilograms of organic almonds and other crops, and this year expects to sell over 1.3 million kilograms.
According to Acácio Cordeiro, there are good prospects for an increase in almond production in the North-East Transmontano region, as it is a key crop in this part of the country.
«We are aware that this increase in production will bring renewed enthusiasm among almond producers, following several rather bleak years with very low prices in the face of rising production costs,» he emphasised.
He explained that there has been an increase in new almond plantations and the conversion of other crops to organic almond cultivation, as well as a focus on modern machinery for harvesting and processing these nuts.
The Nordic market is the main consumer of organic almond kernels, with prices hovering around €7.20 per kilo.
«There is a gap between the price paid for organic almonds and that for conventional ones, with a difference of over €2, which I think is very significant. We will see how the almond market performs in the run-up to the start of the harvest, which takes place in the first and second weeks of October and is benchmarked against the Spanish market,» explained Acácio Cordeiro.
The mild, rainy spring favoured the growth of the fruit, as the almond kernel forms after flowering in March and the kernel develops until June.
«At the moment, the fruit is already ripening and, for now, no water stress is forecast, despite the hot, dry weather, because many farms are already using drip irrigation systems,» he said.
In the Trás-os-Montes region, there has been an increase in the area under almond cultivation, with the district of Mogadouro recording the highest growth in this agricultural sector.
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