The onion season is nearing its end, as the stocks in cold storage are almost depleted. Meanwhile, the harvest date for the first Spring onions approaches. "This season, we haven't had the volumes of other years, but the demand has been quite smooth, without any sharp fluctuations. So sales have been going quite well," says Jorge Esturillo, from Cebestur.
"As for prices, they have been quite high throughout the season, with little variation, so the markets haven't been very dynamic. However, the price of the onions coming out of storage seems to have dropped by the end of the season," says the manager of the Granada-based company. Now, in fact, the average price per kilo of the product after sorting and packing has fallen below 55 cents, while in the first week of February it exceeded 63 cents, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
Cebestur, a family-owned company with over 60 years of experience, is specialized in the marketing of onions both from its own production and from associated growers. The product is sold in both the export and the national markets. "In addition to the Peninsula, we also work with the Canary Islands market. What sets this market apart is that it demands large sizes almost all year round, especially when in high season. The Canary Islands have a local variety available during April, May and June, so there are very interesting market opportunities for onions for much of the year."
The harvest of the Spring variety will start in May, and Spanish operators will then again be able to supply a fresh product. "For now, the quality of the production seems good, and we hope that all the rain that has fallen this past week will result in larger sizes. Seed sales have apparently increased; growers are again finding the motivation to plant onions, so we might have a larger production this year."
For more information:
Cebestur
Ctra. N-323 A, km 158
18650 Dúrcal Granada, Spain
Tel.: +34 958 78 01 57
cebestur@gmail.com
www.cebestur.es