The kaki campaign is starting with small volumes in the Region of Valencia, the fruit's largest producer in Spain, and according to the Spanish Association of Kaki Producers, production volumes are estimated to reach 150,000 tonnes.
"The first forecasts pointed to increased production compared to last season, with a harvest of about 180,000 tonnes of kaki, but drought in major production areas, in addition to more than five hailstorms suffered during the summer, have reduced production by about 30,000 tonnes," says Vicente Masia, president of the Spanish Association of Kaki Producers.
Undoubtedly, the particularity of this kaki season will be the abundance of small calibres, according to Vicente Masia. "These 30,000 tonnes include the small calibre fruits, which will be very hard for growers to sell," he affirms.
In this context, Masia says that the effects of the Russian veto should be somewhat offset by the decline in production, which is even greater than the volumes that were shipped to Russia.
"Indeed, Russia accounted for an interesting share of Spanish kaki sales, with plenty of potential. But that does not mean we will not find an alternative destination for these volumes, as not only is the fruit's popularity on the rise, with demand always above supply, but we will also not have an excessive production, as initially estimated," he explains.
Spanish kakis, with the Bright Red variety being the most important, are exported to EU markets as well as to more distant destinations such as Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, Canada, Brazil, the Middle East and the Far East.