In recent years, the Spanish soft fruit region, Huelva, continued the trend for the decreasing strawberry cultivation and the increase in raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. Yet according to Jan van Bergeijk from Frutas Remolino, this has not caused overproduction. “The areas are expanding, but we are also getting new customers. The market can absorb the expansion in other berries very well.”
Frutas Remolino is part of the Plusberries group, which includes five companies specialised in strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and stone fruit. Dutchman Van Bergeijk is commercially responsible for raspberries within the group. “The market is well-balanced at the moment. The volumes available are not very large, and demand is fairly good. Prices for raspberries are between 8 and 10 euro per kilogram. Supply of strawberries is now also starting, and that market is also fairly stable with prices between 3 and 5 euro, depending on quality and packaging.”
The most important sales markets for Frutas Remolino are the UK, France and Germany. “But we have sales throughout Europe. We are very reserved about sales outside of Europe because of the shelf life of our products. We send fruit to far-off destinations, but as long as we can sell our fruit closer to home, that will remain our main objective,” Van Bergeijk says. The company has Spanish raspberries available year-round, although sales during the summer months are mostly focused on the domestic market.
Competition from other countries producing soft fruit is changeable and depends on weather conditions in these areas. “Countries such as Egypt and Morocco have their own problems. Mexico has a sharp soft fruit production, but it has to be really good quality if they want to send it to Europe. For now, the Spanish soft fruit has plenty of space on the market. That means we are not facing any major challenges. Although, the government could take care of the water shortages a bit quicker, and I fear we might have a shortage of pickers in future.”
For more information:
Frutas Remolino
Jan van Bergeijk
T +34 609 01 66 54
Raspberry@plusberries.com
www.plusberries.com