Spanish strawberry season starting two weeks earlier

The first Spanish strawberries of the new season are available. Because of the warm weather the plants have come into production two weeks early", says Arnold Heemsker of Frutas Esther. He also says more early varieties were planted. It was 5 to 10 degrees too warm up until last week. "Since the beginning of last week it's been a little colder and the temperature does down at night. "Arnold says that the season can get back into its normal rhythm within a few weeks.

The quality of the strawberries is good. The market is going well too. "The strawberry market isn't busy at this time of year", adds Arnold. "There are also strawberries from Egypt at the moment, so it's a question of when the retail will switch to the Spanish ones." He expects the larger volumes to arrive in the market around mid February, as usual.

Frutas Esther expects to have the same volumes available as last year. The variety Candonga has been replaced by Fortuna to have more early strawberries available and Sabrina which is an improvement of the Candonga is from the same programme.

For more information:
Arnold Heemskerk
Frutas Esther
Ctra. de la Estacion, km 1.9
30559 Albaran (Murcia)
Spanje
Tel.: +34 968 770 000
Fax: +34 968 770 879
www.frutasesther.es