The cold of the last few weeks has taken a toll on the zucchini production in Almería, where the harvested volumes are now starting to recover. "There had already been a gap in the production between December and January as a result of the end of the first harvest and the delay in the start of the second harvest due to the cold. In fact, there was a significantly lower supply until January 15," says Luis García, commercial director of Hortofrutícola Las Norias.
This drop in the supply was reflected in the prices of week 3 when zucchini stood out as the product with the highest price in Almería. "There was another factor behind these prices, also related to the cold, which was the higher demand for zucchinis from Italy. At the moment, Spain and Italy, along with Morocco, are the main zucchini suppliers in Europe, but Italy is much more focused on its domestic market. They also had a cold spell that affected their production, so they have been looking for zucchinis in Almería, and specifically small calibers, which are the ones that the market prefers. This has caused prices to rise even more," says Luis.
"This drop in production usually happens every December/January, which is why at Las Norias, a zucchini specialist, our approximately 300 hectares are very much geared towards winter production. We aim to guarantee a reliable service, the best quality, and sufficient volumes throughout the campaign, even at these times when, in general, there is a lower supply available."
"Right now, the temperatures are rising, and the new crops are starting to grow, not only here, but also in Italy, which has stopped buying from Spain, and the price is starting to drop. At the end of last week, the price per kilo stood at 1.45 euros/kilo, which is a pretty good price, but in the previous week, it exceeded 2 euros per kilo."
"However, it must be said that the demand for zucchinis is very good, and sales are going really well, and that's why the price drop hasn't been greater. Many consumers have included zucchini in their diets. It is a healthy and versatile food and that has been the key to its success. The product is currently consumed all year round in Europe."
"In the Netherlands, in particular, our brand Dribling is synonymous with quality and a market leader for the country's retailers," says Luis.
For more information:
Hortofrutícola Las Norias
Las Norias de Daza, Almería (Spain)
Tel.: 950 58 72 39
hln@lasnorias.com
https://lasnorias.com