Spain: Plums arrive with delay, but really high prices

With about 12 days delay compared to last year, mostly due to the lower temperatures and constant rains in May, the plum campaign has started this week in Extremadura for companies like Nogal Fruits. "While last year we started the harvest and marketing of plums on 25 May, this year we have kicked off on 7 June," explains Maximiliano González, of the commercial department.

"Right now, we are harvesting the variety Red Beauty, and this week we will also start with the extra-early Early Queen, which we'll ship mainly to the UK and France. Due to the poor fruit setting of these extra early varieties, we have recorded a drop in volume of more than 60%, although the quality of the fruit is optimal and calibres are great. On 17 June, we hope to start harvesting the variety Splendor, and already with large volumes, as in the rest of varieties."

According to the trader, the European markets currently still have some residual volumes of Chilean plums of low quality at high prices. "Given that the market already demand new and fresh plums and that we have much lower volumes of extra-early fruit, we have started the season with very high prices and very good prospects for the rest of the campaign."

First Spanish company to export stonefruit to Mauritius

This week, Nogal Fruits will become the first Spanish company, along with Cultivar, to export peaches, nectarines and Paraguayo peaches to Mauritius. "Italian and French companies are the ones usually exporting to this market, but this year, for the first time, we have signed contracts with the two largest importers in the islands and we'll enter the market with a high quality product and competitive prices."

With the arrival of mid-season plum varieties, exports will go to distant destinations outside the EU. "Brazil is our biggest market for plums; we market them there with our brand Tentação, in addition to Nogal Fruits. Next week, we will make the first shipments to Canada and we'll also ship Pioner plums to Malaysia."

As in other producing areas of Spain, like Murcia, the plum production is gradually falling. Extremadura continues to concentrate the most acreage and remains a leader in the fruit's cultivation. "Plums are our main product. Of the approximately 8 million kilos of stonefruit we handle, 7 million are plums," assures Maximiliano. The plum season will last until September.

For more information:
Maximiliano González
Nogalfruits
T: +34 927117017
M: +34 630350826
maximiliano@nogalfruits.com
www.nogalfruits.com