"This campaign has been quite marked by the weather recorded during the spring. The frequent rains and low temperatures of the months of March and April, together with the hail storms that we suffered a few days before the start of the harvest, led to a significant reduction in the volumes expected for this campaign. In our particular case, we can speak of a production loss of more than 60% for apricots and Paraguayo peaches," says Daniel Blanco, commercial director of the company Mogalla, which produces its fruit in Andalusia and Extremadura.
At the start of the campaign, in early May, the stone fruit grown in the Extremaduran province of Badajoz has been the most punished, according to the producer and exporter. "Later, the weather also severely hit other areas, such as Lleida and Huesca, with heavy rain and hail, just like in our area."
Taking into account that most of the producing areas have suffered a more marked drop in the production than expected, as well as delays in the harvest, there have been difficulties to meet the orders. "Before the campaign started, lower volumes were already expected due to a poor fruit setting and flowering, and delays in the harvesting had also been predicted. However, what undoubtedly affected us the most was the hail storms that we suffered a few days before the start of the harvest. Naturally, this has taken a negative toll on the sales programs and caused issues in the fruit's harvesting and handling. In summary, it has been quite a difficult campaign," says Daniel Blanco.
In spite of all this, the commercial director at Mogalla says the prices have not improved, as there has been a downward trend since the start of the campaign due to the overlapping of different early producing areas, as already observed in previous years.
"Murcia and Alicante have had a great production, which has caused prices to fall quickly from the start." As every year, the prices of early fruit start at reasonable levels, but as soon as the volume begins to grow, due to the great number of trees planted and the temperature rises recorded at given times of May, the suppliers lose all their bargaining power."
"In general, we have been seeing a considerable increase in the supply of early fruit in recent years in Spain, as well as overlaps between the different producing areas." A few years ago, the fruit hit the markets more gradually, so each area (Murcia, Seville, Badajoz, Lleida, etc.) had its own window. This is not the case anymore. Fruits of the same variety coming from different areas of Spain now become available at the same time. We are also seeing increases in the supply of stone fruit from other countries, such as France and Italy, which are also starting earlier each year. All of this makes it easier for the markets to be hampered by oversupply."
For more information:Daniel Blanco
Mogalla S.A.T.
Carretera Sevilla – Ayamonte, km 104.
Huelva, Andalusia. Spain.
Huelva, Andalusia. Spain.