In just one week, the Red Bright kaki harvest will start in Valencia, Spain's main producer of this subtropical fruit.
The high rainfall, heat waves and hail have reduced yields, which will lead to a smaller harvest than expected; however, according to Vicente Masià, president of the Spanish Kaki Association, this year's production will be 5% greater than that of 2014, reaching approximately 210,000 tonnes.
"While last year, between March and October, there were just 30 to 40 litres per square metre of rainfall, this year we have reached 300 litres," explains Masià. "Excess water causes more fruit drop."
However, he notes that "water has also had a positive impact on the fruit's quality, which will reach better calibres this year, allowing us to reach more export markets. The most commercial sizes are those between 200 and 250 grams."
The closure of the Russian market last year brought disastrous consequences for the sector, as the European market had a kaki surplus and sales prices did not compensate for the prices paid to producers by marketers and cooperatives.
"We need to expand our exports to markets outside the European Union," said Masià. "We believe in the potential of the Asian markets, the Middle East, Brazil and Canada, among others, where we are increasing our shipments every year. If we are able to export citrus to more than 80 countries outside the EU, we can also do the same with kakis," he says.
According to Masià, "Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and China are countries where kakis are traditionally produced and consumed. We are working with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of Spain to move forward with the necessary protocols to access China, a market that could absorb a large amount of Spanish kakis."