Good sales and high prices for Spanish pears and plums

The Spanish stone fruit campaign is already ending with good results. The shortage of Angeleno plums is currently translating into high prices for this product. The same can be said about Williams and Abate Fetel pears, due to declines in the Italian harvest.

“Despite problems caused by drought in some producing areas, the Spanish pear campaign has yielded very good results thanks to an abundant harvest and good quality. Spanish pears have notably benefitted from the drop in the production in other European countries, especially in Italy. The Williams and Abate Fetel varieties have been reaching very high prices since the beginning of the campaign, and with excellent sales rates," explains Carlos Echeveste, from the Commercial Department for the Traditional Business of the Frutaria Group.

As regards the stone fruit campaign, Frutaria is currently marketing the Angeleno plum, a leading variety in the markets whose production has been reduced by around 40% in Extremadura.

“Spanish plums are a highly demanded product, despite the increase in the production in central European countries this summer. Given the tight supply, we have been forced to spread the shipments and prioritize our customers,” said Carlos Echeveste.

For Frutaria, the stone fruit season has been very positive. "Peach and nectarine prices have been very high during practically the entire campaign, and the round fruit varieties marketed under the Regalín brand, as well as the Paraguayos and Ondine flat nectarines, have done really well. We have been able to offer a better flavor and color at times when there has been an oversupply of Paraguayos in the market,” said Carlos Echeveste.

“The consumer demands tasty fruit, and we can provide outstanding products that ensure repeat purchases; something that, backed by a good service, allows chains to have good product rotation on their shelves. Besides our range of round and flat peaches and nectarines, Frutaria is also gaining ground in the cherry market. “This has been a really good year,” he says.

The volume of marketable fruit has been reduced due to inclement weather in the form of occasional frosts, drought, heat waves and some storms. "The weather is going to play a primary role in the field, as already observed in recent campaigns, in which there have always been some fruit-producing countries affected by frost, hail, drought or torrential rains on unusual dates.”

Very soon, the company will also start with the Spanish citrus campaign, with a low harvest expected once again. “I think fruit prices are going to be high in the years to come, both due to the reduction in the harvests due to the impact of the weather and the increase in production costs. We will have to see how this will affect consumption,” concluded Carlos Echeveste.

Frutaria will be exhibiting in Hall 9, stand 9E14 at the 15th edition of Fruit Attraction, from October 3 to 5, at the IFEMA in Madrid.