The kaki season, currently in the midst of its harvest in the Valencia Region, was unexpectedly hit by a hailstorm on the afternoon of Monday, the 17th. The storm affected municipalities in Ribera Alta, including Carlet, Massalavés, and l'Alcúdia, which are among Spain's key kaki production areas.
"We had a good harvesting rhythm and everything was proceeding as planned, but the hail significantly affected the remaining harvest, which was about 50% of the crop," stated Rafael Cosme, general manager of the Ribercamp cooperative in Carlet. "Farms impacted by hail have experienced damage ranging from 40 to 60%," he added.
© Aekaki
Pascual Prats, president of the Spanish Kaki Association, estimated that about 20% of the remaining harvest has been damaged by hail. "We were already experiencing a 20% reduction in production compared to our initial expectations for the first part of the season, mainly due to bad weather and pests. Now, supply is decreasing again, just as the market was very calm," he said. "This year, producers have been paid high purchase prices in the field, and it's hard to justify them."
"In the first two weeks of November, supply generally becomes more concentrated, and sales tend to decline as the market reaches saturation. However, volumes have been decreasing for several days, and we now predict that the reduction caused by hail will affect orders, as there will be even less fruit available," Cosme stated.
© Ribercamp
Ribercamp's general manager notes that production losses from storms like this, along with pest issues, continue to drive up production costs. "Producing kaki has become 50% more expensive over the last 10 years. With the entry of new pests and their proliferation, we have had to significantly increase the number of field treatments with products authorized by the European Commission, which are curiously more expensive and less effective."
Ribercamp, which initially projected a crop of 52,000 tons, sells about 90% of its fruit through the second-tier cooperative Anecoop, mainly to large retail chains. "We hope to finish the season in mid-January, although clients are leaning toward extending the season," he said.
© RibercampFor more information:
Ribercamp
Ctra Creu Negra, 27 46240 Carlet (Valencia)
Tel: +34 96 253 90 00
Email: [email protected]
ribercamp.com
Asociación Española del Kaki
Calle Hernán Cortés, 4, 1.
46004 Valencia, Spain
Tel: (+34) 902 920 515
Email: [email protected]
www.aekaki.es
