The autumn-winter export campaign of leafy crops and brassica vegetables has already started in the Region of Murcia with limited volumes, which are gradually reaching the European markets, where local productions are already coming to an end.
"Our leafy vegetable campaign is starting well, with slightly lower volumes than expected, as we haven't planted more than in other years. I would say that programs are absorbing most of the supply and that the production for the free market has been reduced," said Felipe Lopez, managing director of the cooperative Gregal Murcia and representative of the vegetable sector at FECOAM.
"The supply is still limited and most of the European countries where we are shipping no longer have local produce, so the demand and supply are in balance. We are also supplying good quality produce," he says.
"The strong winds of recent days may have caused some problems for leafy vegetables, which are being harvested on the expected dates," says Gregal's managing director. "Meanwhile, the harvest of brassicas such as broccoli and cauliflower has been considerably delayed due to the influence of the weather in October, and this, together with the significant reduction in the planted area, has resulted in there being a very limited supply, lower than the demand, so prices are high."
As in previous years, there is still uncertainty regarding the availability of irrigation water. In fact, this has already become the main concern for Murcian producers due to the drought and cuts in the Tajo-Segura transfer.
"Many fear that there won't be enough water to irrigate the fields, either from the transfer or from desalination plants," said Felipe Lopez. "That is why some companies have relocated part of their productions to other areas in Spain, which I do not think is a solution to maintain a supply with guarantees, as it implies taking on other kinds of risks at the climatic level. Murcia, northern Almeria and southern Alicante are undoubtedly the best areas to grow vegetables in the open ground and we must fight to maintain the productions there."
Meanwhile, production costs remain high and there's increasing fear of not having enough labor. "Although we do not expect large production volumes this year, we could struggle to have the necessary labor at any points with a greater concentration of the supply. For the time being, we expect balanced production volumes in the coming weeks and good quality parameters," said Felipe López.
Felipe López
Gregal
Carril Los Pérez, S/N
30700 Torre Pacheco. Murcia. Spain
T: +34 968 58 55 56
[email protected]
www.gregal.com