The heavy rains in Valencia, Alicante, Murcia, and part of Albacete have slowed the onion harvest, which came out ahead of schedule in this new campaign, especially in Albacete, one of the few onion producing areas where the weather has been very benevolent so far and there have been very few rains.
“The areas devoted to onions haven't flooded and the rains have not been accompanied by hail, so, for now, we do not expect negative influences on the production's quality. However, there will be a delay in the harvest, as the onion can't be harvested if it is wet,” stated Alfonso Tarazona, the president of the Spanish Association of Onion Harvesters and Exporters (ACEC).
Last season was characterized by unusually high prices in the markets due to an almost worldwide shortage of onions. This year, there is an abundant supply in all producing countries.
“This year there is more onion, more gauge availability, and better quality than last year. We enjoyed very good prices when suddenly, in July, they collapsed in a few days causing instability in sales. Once they hit bottom, prices stabilized and have remained without fluctuations so far. The market recovered its normality. Prices are still low, bordering on the limits of profitability, but we hope that this trend will begin to change and prices start to increase once the onion harvests for storage in all the producing areas ends."