"Spanish stone fruit farmers might destroy their crops"

The stone fruit market is disastrous at the moment. "Spain is producing huge volumes. There are even reports that the growers are leaving fruit to rot on the trees or destroying them to push prices back up again", says Luis Ochoa of Olympic Fruit.

The situation applies to all stone fruits; apricots, nectarines, and paraguayos. "These Spanish producers are concentrating on the retail marker in order to get fixed prices and to avoid day trading. But retailers also look at the prices on the free market", says Luis. "We now find ourselves in a situation where people are willing to give discounts just to make the sale."

There is, according to the importer, no short-term solution. "There is good demand, but the supply far exceeds this. This will only change if there is less produce, which will reduce the supply and increase the demand."

For more information:
Luis Ochoa
Olympic Fruit
Handelscentrum ZHZ 40A
2991 LD Barendrecht
T: +31 - (0)180 646200
l.ochoa@olympicfruit.com
www.olympicfruit.com