The open ground vegetable campaigns are starting in the Spanish Region of Murcia as the summer crop harvests in the rest of Europe come to an end. "Broccoli has started to be harvested in the higher areas of Murcia, and also lettuce, both in Murcia and in the higher areas of Granada," says Jorge Sanchez, of the Murcia-based company Bull Fresh.
"This year, we expect there to be quite a few difficulties with the campaigns of these open ground products, for two main reasons; the first is the lack of water, which is a problem we have been dealing with for quite some time, but which is hitting us full on right now," said Jorge. "Also, the lack of optimal management of desalination plants is resulting in a very considerable increase in the price of water for irrigation, which, together with the reduction in the supply of water from the Tajo-Segura transfer, is resulting in a lack of confidence when planning the plantings, with some producers even considering not planting some crops during the campaign."
"Besides, the law of the Mar Menor has led to the loss of a very high number of hectares of irrigated land in the lower area of Campo de Cartagena, and it is very difficult to find locations with the same climatic conditions in months like December and January, and which could help replace the lost acreage. This has already resulted in a reduction in the planting of some products, mainly broccoli.
"In summer, broccoli is usually produced in higher areas and even in the north, but right now we are concerned about the broccoli production in the middle of winter, because we do not know if we are really going to have a sufficient quantity. This problem affecting open ground vegetables in Murcia was, in fact, a trending topic two weeks ago at Fruit Attraction, because it is feared that there will be a significant decline in a few months."
As for these initial volumes, for now they are not under pressure in the market, as the supply remains limited and there are still a few weeks ahead before the end of the campaigns in Central European countries. However, "quality issues in Central European lettuce productions have led countries such as Italy, an interesting customer for Spain, to start looking already for Spanish produce," said Jorge Sánchez. "However, in general, we expect the lettuce supply to hit its usual stride from next week, and broccoli to do so also in week 45-46."
When it comes to prices, the outlook is looking good and the prospect is that they could be quite attractive, precisely because of the expected reduction in the production and the caution with which producers are planting. "There isn't a speculative amount of produce that could generate a large surplus, mainly because of the uncertainty as regards the water supply."
"But you have to keep in mind that production costs this year are extremely high. Broccoli, in particular, is a vegetable that requires a lot of electricity, not just for the packaging, for also for storage, which is done at 1 °C, and is making the final product much more expensive. The costs of harvesting and materials have also been rising for a year."
The Murcian pointed cabbage campaign will begin in mid-November
Bull Fresh is a company from Murcia that works with open ground vegetable growers in the Region, as well as with growers in Almeria. It supplies a wide range of vegetables and fruit to its customers in Europe, Scandinavia, the Baltic countries, the United Kingdom and the Middle East.
In addition to broccoli and lettuce, another of the main products of this 4 year old company, which is part of the SUBASUR business group, is pointed cabbage, whose campaign will begin in 3-4 weeks, said Jorge Sanchez.
"As with broccoli and lettuce, we expect the pointed cabbage season, which will start in mid-November, to be quite good. When the season starts, Spain and Italy will be alone in the European pointed cabbage market."
For more information:
Bull fresh s.l.
Paseo de Isaac Peral, 19
30880 Águilas, Murcia, Spain
Tel.: +34 629 00 73 21
[email protected]
https://bullfresh.negocio.site
