"Spain: "This year we'll look for alternatives to Brazil for our onions"

For now, sales are good, and although prices are stable, they are also lower than last year, given that more onions have been planted this year. "There is still uncertainty about the prices that the variety will reach this campaign, as the harvest is still underway and we don't know exactly what volumes we'll have," he pointed out.

"However, we already know that there will be larger calibres than last year, with a greater abundance of calibre 2 onions and fewer calibre 1, which are the largest, and in some markets, the most demanded," he adds.

Moreover, the Albacete-based company is also marketing red and white onions this week, although in smaller volumes compared with the Grano or long-storage onions.

Cebollas Cifuentes exports 85% of its onions, both to Europe and to other destinations. "Last year, there was a very good demand from Brazil, since they recorded a significant decrease in their production. So far this year, this market has not yet opened, although there are always some importers that continue to demand Spanish onions," recalls the exporter.

Eduardo Pérez affirms that since the European market is, and will remain, the most important market for large calibres, this year we will have to look for alternatives to Brazil for the other calibres. African countries such as Ivory Coast and Senegal are difficult because of the competition with Dutch onions, which are sold at lower prices.

"Garlic is flying off the shelves this year. We have observed an upward trend for the last two seasons, in which we have also been fortunate to harvest garlic of very good quality and calibres," points out Eduardo Pérez.

Another factor that we have taken advantage of is the decline in the volume of exports from China to markets where it used to be very hard for us to introduce our garlic, especially in Asia, Africa and South America. China's production has been slightly lower for the past two seasons and prices have soared.

The Albacete-based company produces and sells violet and white Spring garlic and purple garlic. "We are still a small company, but we hope to continue expanding with this line of business every year."

Cebollas Cifuentes will take part as an exhibitor at Fruit Attraction 2016, which will be held from 5 to 7 October in Madrid. You can find them at stand 7D01G.