The Region of Valencia has increased its citrus production by 20% compared to the previous season, but has not marketed about 600,000 tonnes due to poor quality caused by the impact of storms and drought.
This was announced by the Councillor of Agriculture, Environment, Climate Change and Rural Development, Elena Cebrián, in a statement to the media on Wednesday.
Cebrián explained that the citrus campaign has developed in two parts; the first was a very "anomalous and negative one," because the Region came from a situation of drought, which had caused a lot of problems, and was followed by storms in November and December that damaged a lot of oranges and clementines.
The second part of the campaign was described by the Councillor as "relatively normal," even "positive" in some areas and varieties; however, she pointed out that this has not compensated for the damages of the first.
In general, she said, some parameters have stabilised, but there has still been some "serious damage."
Also, regarding the start of the summer fruit campaign, the Councillor explained that the beginning has been "difficult. The second week of May was very hot and a lot of production accumulated, which resulted in very low prices," she commented.
"That seems to be improving now," she added. "There has been a boost of demand in consumer countries, but we are talking about products with very short campaigns and that is why we are now analysing the situation." Asked about the steps to be taken in view of the fall in prices, she pointed out that the campaign has to be seen as a whole and stated that "the first measures are only informative."
Source: Europa Press