The early (or Spring) onion harvest started in late April in southern Spain, and prices have been approaching record levels since.
In general, there is a very limited supply of onions in Europe, as the stocks of stored onions have long been depleted, and large trading companies have been importing mainly from the southern hemisphere to be able to supply themselves, also with limited quantities.
"Although the new onion harvest is starting with rather normal volumes, it is not enough to meet such a strong demand, which is why prices are skyrocketing, reaching almost record high levels," says the president of the Spanish Association of Onion Producers and Exporters (ACEC). "Spain is currently one of the few countries able to offer early onions," he adds.
Until the first harvests from the earliest areas of Castile-La Mancha and French onions hit the market, around mid-June, prices are expected to stay at these levels.
In general terms, according to Alfonso Tarazona, the quality of the onions has so far been good, although the sizes are slightly smaller compared to last year. "However, this has not become an inconvenience, since the demand for onions is such that all kinds of calibers are demanded."
For more information:
ACEC
C/ Hernán Cortés nº 4
46004, Valencia, Spain.
T: +34 963517409
acec@acec.info