Carob harvest increases by 50% in Ibiza after prices soar by 42%

Carob harvest increases by 50% in Ibiza after prices soar by 42%
Pile of carobs accumulated at the Sant Antoni Cooperative.

José Miguel López Romero

Monday, October 04 2021, 12.35pm

Since 1st September, when the carob season began, sacks full of these fruits have been arriving at the Sant Antoni Cooperative. And it is not because it has suddenly become the favourite food of the Ibizan people due to its low fat content (1%) or its high levels of minerals and vitamins, but because of the money. Its price has reached unprecedented levels: 0.85 euros (plus VAT) per kilo, which makes carob trees the most coveted of this season.

A kilo of carob “is paying very well”, stresses Juan Antonio Prats, manager of the cooperative. Because 0.85 euros per kilo (plus VAT), is 25 cents more than what was paid in 2020 for them, that is, 41.6% more. And twice as much as three years ago (0.40 euros per kilo), when due to the appreciation it experienced over the previous year (in 2017 it was priced at 0.28 euros) it could be said that whoever had a carob tree had a treasure. Now even more so, as it is worth 204% more than four years ago Such a price has encouraged farmers not to leave a single carob tree in the ground: “The season is going very well. We started on September 1st and we have already harvested 50% more than last year. This is due to what is being paid, which is a lot”. And to this excellent price “a very good yield” has been added. And the fact that the wood pigeons do not seem to be interested in these pods, they have not affected the harvest.

Prices in Ibiza

Almond, double to encourage their cultivation The cooperative has not recieved the quantity of almonds it expected and a price well above the market has been maintained to promote its cultivation. “Prices are low outside of here, on the mainland, but in Ibiza we are maintaining prices to promote the Ibizan almond. Here we pay between 0.75 and 0.85 euros per kilo (with shell), as in 2020. Outside, between 0.45 and 0.6 euros per kilo, much cheaper”.

For the full article, please visit Diario de Ibiza website here.