Spanish citrus growers change to Kaki

In contrast to previous reports about heavy rainfall in November in Spain, it hasn't been as dry for years in the province Valencia as it was last autumn. Citrus grower Lucky from Alzira says he had to irrigate his plantations three times because the ground was, and is, so dry. "This hasn't happened in past years." After two months of drought it started to spit a little yesterday.

According to him it's a myth that rain's bad for citrus. Too much rain isn't good for the fruit, but the trees need water. "It's manipulation of the market and the competition that destroys us here."The growers says he received less for a 12kg box than we pay for a 1kg box in the supermarket. "It's impossible that we can only sell the citrus to make juice?" A demonstration in Madrid produced a subsidy of 102 Euro per 1500 m2. "Like that helps", says Lucky.

This year a large amount of the harvest will remain on the trees. "We, and most growers, didn't pick anything this year", says Lucky, who grows Clemenvilla's. "In this area only one lot picked the Clemenvilla's, but all our neighbours still have half of them on the trees." He says a quarter of the citrus has already become overripe and has fallen off, and the rest has been stolen.

"The prices for citrus decrease each year, whilst the water price for irrigation increases", adds the grower. "Even the price of the pulp that remains after squeezing and processing the fruits decreases." He says there are multiple plots for sale in Valencia. "Last year a number switched to growing kaki's". He hopes the tide will change in the future.