Prices are on the rise in Almeria for almost all vegetable products, although the situation of peppers is particularly remarkable, with really high prices due to the scarcity of first-class products because of quality problems.
"It has been a very difficult year for the sector when it comes to pepper production and sales," says Javier Maldonado, from Hortisol's sales department.
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According to the sales representative of this Almeria-based company, there are many reports of quality problems, especially due to the impact of the Thrips parvispinus pest, which is causing major defects in the fruit, so a large part of the production has had to be marketed as second class. "Very little produce can be marketed as first class and its prices are very high," he says.
"Many growers have already pulled up their pepper crops because of quality issues, so Almeria's pepper season is going to finish much earlier than usual. At most, it will last for another month and a gap in the supply is expected before the arrival of the productions from Murcia and the Netherlands," says Javier Maldonado.
Cucumbers had a tough start due to oversupply, but prices started becoming particularly good after the Christmas period due to low yields.
"At the moment, there is limited availability of Dutch-type cucumbers and that's why prices have been high since January. It's very difficult to get cucumbers on the free market, outside of programs, while the Netherlands, despite having already started with some harvests, still has very scarce volumes," says Maldonado. "I believe that cucumber production is increasingly left in the hands of specialist growers who are able to supply almost all year round."
Tomato prices are also high at the moment, while eggplant and zucchini have started to become more expensive this week. Both zucchini and eggplant are crops that are more sensitive to the weather, which is proving to be more unstable. In fact, last week there seemed to be a surplus and now there is starting to be some scarcity.
For more information:
Javier Maldonado
Frutas Hortisol S.L.
Tel.: +34 950550234
[email protected]
www.frutashortisol.es
