The carob harvest has officially begun in Ibiza, and this year is bringing more optimism to the island’s farmers.

The Cooperativa Agrícola de Sant Antoni began collecting carob on September 1, expecting a better season than last year thanks largely to the rainfall received during winter and spring.

The crop is also attracting renewed attention for another reason: the carob tree has shown remarkable resilience in Ibiza’s increasingly hot and dry conditions.

A Better Harvest Expected

The cooperative expects to collect more carob this season than in 2025.

Last year, drought reduced the Sant Antoni cooperative's harvest to around 400–500 tonnes, significantly below the 700–800 tonnes it would normally collect.

This year's wetter winter and spring have helped the trees recover, although the summer heat has accelerated ripening.

As a result, the first carob arriving at the cooperative is somewhat smaller and lighter than usual.

Even so, cooperative president Toni Tur expects the overall harvest to improve as the season progresses.

Prices Are Holding Up

The price is also looking more encouraging for producers.

The cooperative is maintaining a payment of around €0.40 per kilo, the same level it established last season.

That figure remains above the general market prices seen in 2025, when prices were closer to €0.30–€0.35 per kilo.

This year, the wider market has moved closer to the cooperative's level, with prices currently around €0.35–€0.40 per kilo.

Tur described this as a positive sign, although the final price will ultimately depend on the global carob market.

The cooperative has previously chosen to maintain its price to help ensure that local farmers continue to have an incentive to harvest the crop.

Why Carob Matters to Ibiza

Beyond its economic value, the carob tree is becoming increasingly interesting because of its ability to cope with drought.

The contrast has been particularly noticeable this summer.

While other traditional crops, including almond, fig and date palm trees, have suffered from the heat and lack of water, the carob tree has generally remained more resilient.

As Tur explained, the carob tree is often the one that “stays green” when other vegetation begins to struggle.

That resilience is becoming increasingly important as Ibiza deals with hotter summers and recurring periods of drought.

Encouraging More Carob Trees

The Cooperativa Agrícola de Sant Antoni is also trying to encourage more planting.

Farmers who deliver carob to the cooperative can receive a carob tree or a voucher for one, as part of an initiative designed to encourage the expansion of the crop.

The cooperative says it has already distributed around 300 young trees through previous editions.

The idea is not simply to increase future production, but also to preserve Ibiza's agricultural landscape.

More Carob Is Coming From Santa Eulària

The campaign is also becoming more connected across the island.

For around five years, the Cooperativa de Santa Eulària has been collecting carob from its members and transporting it to the Sant Antoni facilities.

According to its manager, Juan Antonio Prats, approximately 10% of the carob now arriving at Sant Antoni comes from the Santa Eulària area.

The expectation is that this proportion could continue to grow as more farmers participate.

Support From the Consell

The crop is also receiving institutional support.

During the start of the harvest, Joan Marí Guasch, director insular of Medio Rural y Marino at the Consell d’Eivissa, highlighted the carob tree's performance during recent periods of drought.

The Consell currently provides €25 per tree for planting traditional species including carob, fig and olive trees.

Carob is currently attracting the largest number of applications.

The available budget has also increased significantly, reaching €50,000, compared with €20,000 a few years ago.

According to the Consell, a hectare of carob trees can typically contain between 125 and 150 trees, depending on the planting arrangement and the characteristics of the land.

A Crop With a Future?

Carob has historically played an important role in Ibiza's rural landscape, but its potential is now being viewed through a different lens.

The tree's ability to tolerate drought, its importance to the agricultural landscape and the demand for its fruit and seeds are making it increasingly relevant as the island considers how agriculture can adapt to a changing climate.

The carob itself also has a range of uses.

Its seeds, known as garrofí, are used to produce carob gum, an ingredient used in the food industry, while carob flour is used in products including bakery and confectionery.

That gives the crop potential beyond traditional agricultural uses.

More Than Just a Harvest

This year's campaign is therefore about more than how many tonnes Ibiza produces.

It is also about which crops can continue to thrive as conditions become hotter and drier.

For the Cooperativa Agrícola de Sant Antoni, the answer increasingly points towards the carob tree.

After a difficult 2025 season, the outlook for this year's harvest is more positive.

And with farmers, cooperatives and the Consell all supporting new planting, the humble carob tree could become an increasingly important part of Ibiza's agricultural landscape.

For an island facing a changing climate, sometimes the most valuable crops are the ones that know how to endure.