Catalonia approves Harvista use in apples and pears for the 2026 season

AgroFresh™ announces that Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has granted exceptional authorization for the marketing and use of Harvista™, a solution containing 17.15 g/L 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) [SC], for preharvest application as a plant growth regulator in apple and pear crops.

The authorization is valid exclusively in the Autonomous Community of Catalonia, from 15 June to 12 October 2026 for pear crops, and from 1 July to 28 October 2026 for apple crops.

This measure, requested and promoted by Catalonia’s producer associations, responds to the need to provide growers with effective tools to address the effects of climate change, which is accelerating fruit ripening and making harvest planning increasingly challenging.

Thanks to this authorization, growers will be able to apply Harvista™ to delay fruit ripening and reduce premature fruit drop, allowing fruit to remain on the tree for longer. This provides greater flexibility in harvest scheduling, improves orchard management and enhances both fruit quality and its postharvest storage performance.

Harvista™ An Innovative Technology to Protect Crop Value

Harvista™ is a plant growth regulator developed by AgroFresh™ that acts on ethylene production in the fruit, slowing the ripening process while helping to maintain firmness and quality.

Applied before harvest, Harvista™ provides significant benefits for growers by allowing harvests to be staggered, improving logistical efficiency and preserving the fruit’s marketable characteristics for longer, thereby maximizing crop value.

Conditions of the Exceptional Authorization

The exceptional authorization establishes the following conditions of use:

• Authorized crops: Apple and pear.
• Area of application: Autonomous Community of Catalonia.
• Maximum application rate: Between 8.75 and 11.7 L/ha.
• Maximum number of applications: 1.
• Application timing: BBCH growth stages 81–87.
• Spray volume: Between 100 and 1,000 L/ha.
• Preharvest interval: 3 days.

Harvista™ must be used in accordance with the conditions established in the exceptional authorization, under the supervision of the competent regional authorities and following the instructions provided on the product label.

Commitment to More Sustainable Fruit Production

With this exceptional authorization, AgroFresh™ reaffirms its commitment to pome fruit growers and to the development of innovative solutions that contribute to more efficient, sustainable agriculture capable of meeting emerging climate challenges.

Harvista™ is becoming a strategic tool that helps fruit growers improve harvest management, reduce losses and supply the market with high-quality fruit while meeting the increasing demands of the entire value chain.

More information at AgroFresh