MercoFraga, the fruit wholesale market at Bajo Cinca, Spain, faces the final month of the fruit campaign with prices at the average levels of the past five years, despite the lower harvest volumes. Juan José Orríes, the market's director, links this to the influence of the great commercial establishments on retail prices, as fruit consumption this year is definitely not low.
Harvests were already small and hailstorms have made things worse. Low prices affect almost every crop, although certain varieties more than others, whether due to a lack of plantations, to them being too traditional, or too new. An example of this, Orríes says, is the most traditional yellow peach variety.
MercoFraga's director points out that flat peaches continue to be interesting in terms of price, and will continue to be as long as the expansion rate of the plantations is controlled, as "eventually the market could saturate if the rate during the past few years is maintained."
Due to this, MercoFraga's head understands the importance of diversifying the products on offer and seeking alternatives. The Council's Delegation of Agriculture in Fraga plans to organise some technical conferences next autumn.
Source: Radio Huesca