British producers of fruits and vegetables are considering shifting their operations to warmer countries, including Morocco. Chief Executive of the British Growers Association Jack Ward suspects that the European production of fruit and vegetables will move south: "We will move production further and further south, down through Spain and into Morocco and bits of Africa."
The ongoing surge in energy prices has prompted farmers in northern and western Europe to suspend or cut their activities. Ward argues that the rising production costs are set to impact the growth of crops such as tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers that require heated greenhouses during winter. The production of apples, onions, and endives which necessitate cold storage of crops, will also be impacted. Excessive energy bills and fertilizer prices have heavily impacted growers in France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain.
As European agricultural producers turn to Morocco to increase their profit margin amid a serious economic crisis, some French and Spanish farmers continue to protest the importation of Moroccan fruits and vegetables, questioning the quality of the goods.
Source: moroccoworldnews.com