Spain: 40,000 tons of melons face destruction in Murcia

Farmers say they are making a loss with the prices now being paid by the large supermarkets

Agrarian organisations in Murcia say they will continue to destroy 30% of the Cartagena campo’s melon crop, as long as farmers fail to cover their costs of producing the fruit.

Pedro Lencina, president of the COAG agrarian association, told EFE this Monday that, with the low prices now being paid by the large supermarkets, farmers are not even covering their production costs and need at least another 17 cents a kilo to receive the smallest of profits. They are hoping that with destroying part of the crop, prices will be forced up and the farmers will receive a reasonable price.

They’ve agreed as a measure to try and force action that some 40,000 tons of the fruit will be not be sold, but part will instead go to charity and the remainder will be destroyed.


Source: typicallyspanish.com

Publication date: 7/7/2009

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