"So far, we have not suffered any setbacks caused by frost or hail, so the flowering and settling of the fruit have been quite acceptable, which should result in good quality fruit. Although the rains and low temperatures of recent days will slightly delay the start of season, we expect to start in late April. The fruit now needs many hours of sunshine and higher temperatures so that quality can be optimal," explains Joaquín Gómez, president of APOEXPA.
The varietal conversions in Murcia have favoured the earlier varieties, so we expect large nectarine, peach and flat peach harvests in May, exceeding 60,000 tonnes. This is a figure which, before the conversions, we used to reach in June.
However, it is not simply a matter of obtaining a higher supply in May, since, according to Joaquín Gómez, the quality of the fruit has also improved. Now it is more suited to the needs and requirements of European consumers, which should boost the business operations.
Such is the example of apricots, with the gradual disappearance of white flesh varieties, such as the Bulida and Mauritius, and the promotion of orange flesh ones, such as the Mogador. If the weather remains favourable, the sector expects European retail chains to start making large orders for stonefruit in May, which, according to Joaquín, "would be decisive for an excellent campaign."
It is worth noting that the 2014 stonefruit season was very irregular, mainly due to a lack of foresight in terms of volume, with oversupply having a big impact on prices.
Furthermore, there is uncertainty about how the market will react to the Russian ban, as stonefruit producers from Murcia were not affected by it last year, since it came into force late in the campaign.
"The Russian market is very large and we are obviously going to feel its absence, but looking on the bright side, if Russia maintained the veto in the coming years, we would have the opportunity to grow in other third markets. Currently we are working with Algeria and South Africa to continue increasing our exports, as well as with China, where we are making progress in the negotiation of the phytosanitary protocols needed to gain access in the future."