The increase is not very high, about 0.50 cents per arroba (11.34 kilos), but for the owners of the fields, it is significant, since they had been waiting for years for the situation to change and for prices to increase.
This is a reason for joy for the hundreds of producers in the county who have seen their profits fall and their expenses grow in recent years, as electricity, water and plant protection products have all become more expensive.
The representative of the Valencian Association of Farmers (AVA), Vicent Faro, explained that after some tough years, there is now finally a season with slightly higher profits. In this case, the orange varieties that have already been harvested have been sold for 0.50 Euro more per arroba.
Faro pointed out that both clementines and oranges are reaching higher prices. The former cost 4.5 Euro per arroba, while the latter are being sold for 3.5 Euro.
This is a relief for citrus growers, who have obtained virtually zero profits in recent years. In fact, many producers have actually abandoned their plantations in recent seasons because they were no longer profitable.
The main reason for the slightly higher prices paid for La Safor oranges is the fact that this season's production has been a little smaller. Faro said that the weather conditions have taken a toll on the flowering and the trees will consequently yield less fruit.
"The trees respond to the weather, the sun and other biological factors, and the amount of fruit they bear depends on how the previous season has been, also in previous years. In other words, the trees remember previous data," explained Faro. But this slight increase in prices will not put an end to the difficult situation of many growers in La Safor, as they continue to deal with high production costs.
The profit margins are scarce due to the cost of electricity, water and even labour. In many cases, as Faro said, "growers keep the plantations active just because they want to, not because they make a profit from them."
African oranges
The representative of AVA recalled that it is necessary to take into account the massive arrival of oranges from South Africa. Faro commented that there is an agreement in force between the African country and the EU that allows the entry of citrus fruits until 30 October. "If the date on the agreement was set a month earlier, a boost would be given to the Valencian production of oranges and the profits made by growers in La Safor and other central regions would increase," he stressed. Faro explained that there have been oranges in Spain during the summer thanks to this agreement, as that is a time when there is no production in the Peninsula.
But once August comes to an end, in early September, the production kicks off again in Valencia, so AVA has shown its opposition to the agreement's conditions, which make it possible for South African citrus to enter the EU long after the start of the harvesting season in Spain.
"The date set on the agreement would have to be moved back a month, as this would give a boost to the production of extra-early varieties, which at the moment have a very small market," said the expert in Valencian citrus.
Source: lasprovincias.es
