The bet on paraguayos will yield its first great result this year, as the production volume will exceed that of classic red peaches in Spain as a whole. In Murcia, it is already the most extensively grown stonefruit. The reason for the success of this peach variety lies in its low prices, due to its abundance in the domestic market and the fact that it is still not very popular among European consumers.
The Confederation of Agro-Food Cooperatives estimates a national production of paraguayos totalling 314,247 tonnes (+12.3%), compared to the 308,922 tonnes of red peaches (+6.5%) and 305,011 tonnes of pavia peaches (+9.8%). On top of the ranking are nectarines, with 585,302 tonnes (+9.3%).
Spain is the only European country that grows paraguayos, especially in Catalonia (Lleida), with 121,700 tonnes, and Murcia (Vega Alta del Segura), with 87,000 tonnes. Another 87,367 tonnes are distributed between Aragon, Navarre and La Rioja. Extremadura contributes 9,870 tonnes and the Region of Valencia another 6,000 tonnes. The remaining 2,310 tonnes come from the rest of the country.
This year, the paraguayo has become the main stonefruit in Murcia, with 87,000 tonnes expected (+8.7%). It is followed by nectarines, with 70,000 tonnes (+16.6%); pavia peaches, with 66,000 tonnes (+10%); apricots, with 57,000 tonnes (-29.6%); red peaches, with 26,000 tonnes (+30%), and plums, with 16,000 tonnes (-11.1%). However, these volumes could still be reduced these days due to the impact of heat waves and the scarcity of water for irrigation.
Low prices
The rise in popularity of paraguayos has not translated into better prices; quite the opposite. Given the abundant national production, it is the stonefruit with the lowest price at origin within the Region. According to the latest data from the Council of Agriculture, the price paid last week oscillated between a minimum of 35 cents per kilo and a maximum of 50 cents. Pavia peaches, for example, reached between 50 and 75 cents per kilo; apricots, between 50 and 60 cents, and nectarines, between 40 and 50 cents.
The low prices at origin this campaign are not having an impact on retail prices. This is reflected in the latest Index of Prices of Food at Origin and Destination (IPOD), released by the agricultural union Coag. Peach and nectarine prices multiply by 7 from tree to the table, with prices at origin below 50 cents/kilo and retail prices reaching around 3.50 Euro/kilo. In 2015, with a similar production, prices at origin were close to 1 Euro per kilo, which is 50% more than at present, and consumer prices stood at similar levels as now.
Under these conditions, many producers are considering leaving part of the production in the trees. Coag argues that prices do not cover the production costs, while the wide margins of distribution chains are not justified by the fresh market conditions. The union urges wholesalers to restrain in order to stimulate consumption. It also calls for the use of market crisis management measures through fruit and vegetable producer organizations (OPFH), especially green harvesting.
For juice
The Ministry of Agriculture has announced the introduction of a quota for the processing of peaches, nectarines and paraguayos into juice in order to bring balance to the market. To this end, it has set a maximum volume of 25,000 tonnes, which will be possible to process from 20 June to 30 September, when the campaign will come to an end.
Source: laverdad.es
