Growers, cooperatives, wholesalers and retailers have confirmed an exponential rise in fruit consumption in Spain and other countries of central and northern Europe. Handling facilities are incredibly busy, although on a more negative side, prices at origin are very low.
Proexport Murcia states that watermelon exports last week increased by 33%, although the UK, Poland, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Austria, the Netherlands and France exceed this percentage. Does the heat have something to do?
"That's for sure. Watermelon is a product which is very strongly linked to hot temperatures and its consumption volumes depend on the heat," they argue. As for melons, foreign sales for Proexport partners have skyrocketed over the past week, growing by up to 50% compared to the same period of 2014.
Specifically, the annual increases in melon exports for week 27 have been very noteworthy in Germany (+25.53%), France (+53.64%) and the UK (+70.65%). "In Spain, increases are probably much higher, justified by high temperatures," explains Proexport.
"Orders hit the roof last week due to the heat wave, especially in Germany, Belgium, Austria and Switzerland; we were actually unable to cover them all," says the production manager of Grupo AGF (Fashion Watermelons), Joaquín Hidalgo, who estimates the increase over what would be usual at around 30%.
"Watermelon consumption is very seasonal and, in the case of Europe, it increases when temperatures exceed 27 or 28 degrees." Kat Gorska, manager of the Association of Fruit and Vegetable Wholesalers of Madrid's Central Market (Asomafrut), emphasises that high temperatures have led to an astounding boost in the consumption of these seasonal fruits, which "become an important source of water."
The unusual heat wave registered in Europe in 2003 also led to increased consumption of peaches, watermelons, melons and pears, reminds the president of Asaja-Lleida for sweet fruits, Pere Roque; a situation which has been repeated this year.
However, the rise in demand contrasts with the situation of prices at origin, which for nectarines range between 0.35 and 0.40 Euro per kilo, when the same fruit in the supermarket is sold for 1.70 to 2 Euro per kilo.
In his opinion, brokers, "with only a car and a mobile phone," hoard 40-50 Euro cents per kilo of the sales value, to the detriment of producers, who actually do the work. Xavier Gorgues, of the Growers' Union of Catalonia, states that cooperatives have registered increased sales to Germany or France, for example, and "they are working at full capacity."
"All the fruit harvested is sorted, packed and shipped immediately. At some large cooperatives, about one million kilos are brought in daily which are shipped in trucks that same day."
Nordic consumers associate the consumption of peaches, nectarines, Paraguayo peaches, plums and cherries with the heat, which has boosted sales, adds Miguel Ángel Gómez, of the Association of Fruit Growers of Extremadura (Afruex), although it has been a different story for prices.
"The situation for the producers is very difficult; illogical, because the fruits are registering good sales and there are no stocks," he laments. In recent weeks, prices have been on the verge of profitability, he argues, Francisco Moreno, from Acopaex also highlights the pressure exerted by the large distribution chains.
Source: elconfidencial.com
