UPA-UCE Extremadura recently analyzed the development of the stone fruit campaign in the region. Currently, more than 60% of this season's stone fruit production has already been harvested. According to Ignacio Huertas, the secretary general of the agricultural organization, with the exception of cherry and plums and despite the drought, stone fruit production -including that of peaches and nectarines- has increased by almost 10% over the previous year. Plum production, however, has decreased, especially in the earliest varieties.
As a result of the first heat wave, the campaign started one week earlier than last year. "This generated a certain crowding of the earliest varieties at the beginning of the harvest, but things have already normalized," Huertas said. The quality of the fruits this season is good, sizes are better, and there are fewer discounts than last year, he added. He also acknowledged that producers had to deal with "some lack-of-labor issues" in the harvest.
Stone fruit production at the European level is expected to decrease by 10% and the national level is expected to be 18% lower than in a normal campaign. According to initial forecasts, Spain would produce 1,500,000 tons of stone fruit this year. However, due to weather issues, the country is now expected will produce 1,300,000 tons, when the average production stands at 1,594,000 tons.
Extremadura will produce 225,000 tons this year, i.e. 24% less than the 297,000 tons it produced last year; a decrease that is due to this year's catastrophic cherry campaign.
"As a result, there is a greater demand for fruit," said the secretary general of the organization. "We continue having a price problem. Many farmers do not know what price they are selling their products at when they deliver their production. In addition, their contracts don't set conditions, such as the date of payment, which according to the law must be paid within a month after the product is delivered."
Source: upa.es
