The green asparagus campaign in Granada is already underway with consistent volumes and the positive impact of the recent rains on the product's size and quality. For the time being, Spanish asparagus is still facing competition from Mexican produce, so prices at the start of the campaign are lower than last season.
"Although we started with only a few kilos in February, since last weekend we have been working with more significant volumes, allowing us to open lines with major European distributors," says José Antonio Gómez Aguilera, president of the Espárrago de Granada cooperative. "However, colder weather is expected next week and that may slow the production down again."
The green asparagus campaign started with lower prices than last year. "Europe still has some supply of Mexican asparagus, which has been cheaper this year. Although prices are lower, they are acceptable for now, and are allowing us to cover the higher handling and labor costs. We hope that all European chains will soon have made the switch to the Spanish production," says José Antonio Gómez.
The recent rains have brought significant relief to green asparagus producers in Granada, where a severe drought has kept water reserves at worryingly low levels and greatly limited the possibility of the crop's expansion. "The March rains have brought great relief," says the president of the cooperative. "Thanks to that, we can count on a better quality product and larger sizes."
"Although we expect slightly greater volumes than in the previous campaign, no production peaks are anticipated, but rather a staggered harvest, following the trend of recent years," says José Antonio Gómez. In Spain, Granada's asparagus are supplemented with productions from Antequera, Seville, Cordoba or Guadalajara. While Italy is also in the market around the same time, its production significantly decreased last year, according to the representative of this Granada-based cooperative.
Espárrago de Granada's production is mainly intended for export, especially to Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Denmark, where, according to José Antonio, "Spanish asparagus is appreciated for its greater freshness and quality and lower carbon footprint and reaches somewhat higher prices than the Mexican. We expect the Mexican production to run out in about 10 or 15 days."
For more information:
José Antonio Gómez Aguilera
Espárrago de Granada, S.C.A.
T: +34 958513061
M:+34 658770678
joseantonio@esparragodegranada.es
esparragodegranada.eu/