The cold weather in Spain lasted remarkably long this winter. "Spring is finally starting to arrive, but the supply of most fruits has slowed down considerably, resulting in a general shortage of Spanish soft fruit," says Jan van Bergeijk, who has been involved in Spanish cultivation for more than 30 years and is commercially responsible for raspberries within the Plusberries group.
"For example, the cold has had a significant impact on raspberries. Additionally, raspberry cultivation in Spain is becoming less profitable, leading to fewer plantings, which further exacerbates the issue. Moreover, after a peak, a decline always follows. Last autumn, we experienced a supply peak, and the downward trend began after New Year. I estimate that we are now at the lowest point of raspberry production, and while more raspberries are slowly entering the market, it will likely take until early April before the supply is sufficient again," Jan predicts.
"As a result, raspberry prices are currently very high. Supply from Morocco is also lagging behind. I visited Agadir this season and do not expect large volumes before April 1," says Jan. "A similar trend is visible with blackberries. There have also been shortages throughout the winter, though blackberry supply may recover slightly faster."
"Blueberry production in Spain was also delayed, but supply is now beginning to increase. At the moment, quite a few low-quality overseas berries are being sold at very low prices. Moroccan blueberries are reasonably priced at €8-9, with Spanish berries selling at similar levels. However, the price gap between different blueberry varieties continues to widen."
"Strawberry supply has also been limited, and the rain has caused some quality issues with Spanish strawberries. More strawberries are expected to arrive in the coming weeks, but overall, I anticipate that prices will remain stable." The demand around Valentine's Day always creates a temporary spike, but it also brings additional workload, the Dutchman observes. "More strawberries will be sold, but with all the special packaging, it often turns into a hectic rush for just one day."
While water shortages in Huelva have been a pressing issue in recent years, the situation seems to have eased somewhat this season. "There has been regular rainfall this winter, which has reduced the immediate pressure. However, we still need to remain cautious because the summer heat will return, and restrictions will still apply," says Jan. Another challenge for Spanish growers is the minimum wage increase introduced on January 1. "Like everywhere else in Europe, cultivation here is becoming increasingly expensive, and finding labor is also becoming more difficult. We hope for a political solution because change is necessary."
For more information:
Jan van Bergeijk
Remolino Berries
Tel: +34 609 01 66 54
[email protected]
www.plusberries.com