The total area planted with berries in the Spanish province of Huelva for the 2020/2021 campaign is 11,630 hectares; a very similar figure to the 11,751 hectares of berries planted in the previous year (-1.8%).
The Association of Producers and Exporters of Strawberries of Huelva, Freshuelva, reports that, according to the data provided by the associated companies, the area planted with strawberries amounts to 6,105 hectares, just a little under 2% below the 6,217 hectares planted last season.
Blueberries are the only berry recording an increase in the acreage. It is up by 7.20% and amounts to 3,310 hectares, compared to the 3,089 hectares planted last season. This situation is due, above all, to new plants becoming commercially productive three years after their planting.
The agrarian organization has verified the berry's greater varietal diversification, with a remarkable growth of the early varieties that allow access to the market from the beginning of the year or even during the Christmas holidays, although with small volumes.
Meanwhile, raspberries have yielded more negative data. The acreage has been reduced by 10%, going from 2,300 hectares in the previous season to 2,070 this time. These will not be in production at the same time, since the varietal diversity makes it possible to harvest raspberries in autumn and spring.
The acreage devoted to blackberries remains stable at the 145 hectares already planted last season.
According to Freshuelva, these data show that the commitment to crop diversification which started in previous campaigns has become consolidated, thus guaranteeing the presence of Huelva's berries in the markets for practically nine months of the year.
The berry sector is facing a new season that has been marked by rains following the planting which have had a mostly positive impact, even though they have also caused some losses in the western part of the province, mainly in raspberry and blueberry plantations.
For more information:
Freshuelva
Tel.: +34 959 248 222
freshuelva@freshuelva.es
www.freshuelva.es