Stable prices, smooth sales for stonefruit

Stonefruit sales are going smoothly, despite the inability to export to the Russian market, partly due to the fact that the harvesting periods in different Spanish production areas are not overlapping.

"The stonefruit season has perhaps not started with prices as high as last year's, but overall they have remained fairly stable so far and sales have been smooth, which is good for the sector," explains Marc Pinyol, manager of Grup Fruiter, of Benissanet, in an interview to FreshPlaza.

Another aspect worthy to note, compared to last season, is the fruit's quality, since, according to Marc Pinyol, "it is higher this year, both in terms of taste and colour."

Grup Fruiter has already closed the cherry campaign, a product that brought really good results until the fruit from other countries, such as Greece, Italy, Turkey and most recently France, hit the market. For now, the Tarragona-based company continues marketing peaches and nectarines, and flat peaches will also arrive soon.

The fruit sector continues to be unable to export goods to Russia, although the Ministry of Agriculture has announced it has measures planned in case of a repeat of last year's situation. 

"We didn't have significant business with Russia," says Marc Pinyol. "However, the fruit that was going to this destination has been redirected to other markets, such as the Middle East, Latin America, North Africa, Asia or Canada."

"While from now on the market will feel the pressure from French and Italian goods, prices should not necessarily have to drop during the remainder of the campaign if we manage to keep the volumes marketed under control. Prices are now at a very acceptable level for both the producer and the consumer, and will remain so even if they increased or dropped by about 10%. Obviously, prices influence consumption, but at a given point, consumption stabilises. Even if prices were lower, sales would not necessarily increase; it is a mistake to think otherwise," points out Pinyol.