The Verna lemon campaign in Spain, which has been severely affected by Spain's massive electricity blackout, has started unexpectedly early this year.
"Due to the fact that this year there has been a drop in the Primofiori production, which was first estimated at 20%, and in the end will reach 35%, and that the weather conditions in March have accelerated the ripening process, the Primofiori lemon season has ended around a month earlier than usual," says Juan Antonio Martínez, from Toñifruit.
"As a result, we've had to start earlier with the Verna lemon harvest and kick off the season in late March, when ideally it would have been better to delay it, precisely because of the expected drop in production."
"Faced with this situation, we are striving for a balanced sales pace, reducing promotions as much as possible so that the season can last for as long as possible with the supply available this year, and we can, as always, provide the best service to the markets. We also have some lemons in production that will allow us to extend the season in the event of an early end to the Verna season: Rodrejos and Verdelli."
"Both lemons grow from the second flowering of the Verna and Primofiori," says Juan Antonio. "These are fruits that stay for longer on the tree, where they are exposed to inclement weather and wind, so they tend to have more skin defects. But if the Verna season also comes to an end early, we can resort to them, and we hope that the market or clients will be more lenient, accepting such aesthetic defects if there is a certain shortage at the end of the season."
"Also, given the state of the water resources and the trees following the rainy spring, the increased vegetation of the lemon trees in recent months and the abundance of water in the soil could mean that the next Primofiori season could also start somewhat earlier. So we are optimistic about the development of the lemon season in the coming months."
As far as prices are concerned, lemons are showing a very positive trend this 2024/25 season after last year's results, which, in many cases, put the profitability of many farms and companies at serious risk. "This season's average prices should be good enough, taking into account the lower percentage of the crop that is going to be harvested. Unfortunately, they won't make up for the losses of the previous year, although looking at the supply situation expected in the coming months, we expect prices to remain at correct levels until the end."
For more information:
Toñifruit
Parque empresarial Cabecicos Blancos
C/ Molino Grande, mailbox 22
30892 Librilla, Murcia. Spain
Tel.: +34 968 071 056
[email protected]
https://tonifruit.com