The weather conditions in Portugal have had an impact on the cabbage season, says Ana Rita Matos, of Portuguese fresh produce exporter Horticolas Casal d'Avo Lda (HCA): "This season has been challenging for Portuguese cabbage growers. Weather conditions, including unexpected frost and irregular rainfall, have affected both planting schedules and crop development. Despite these setbacks, we're focused on maintaining quality through careful field management and post-harvest handling. We expect the market to value the consistent quality we're able to deliver."
© Horticolas Casal d’Avo Lda
Despite the issues with the weather, production is actually expected to be larger than it was last year, Matos explains. "We'll have bigger production volumes compared to previous seasons. For example, we have 150 hectares of plantation of pointed cabbage. We expect to produce in larger quantities to supply our clients for longer periods of time and maybe reach new clients and new markets."
The cabbage that HCA harvests will be exported to several European countries, Matos states: "The harvest of cabbage in bigger quantities will start in November. We're expecting to work with Poland and the Netherlands as we did before, but with larger volumes and more frequent loads. We also already exported to Italy, the UK, France, and Germany. But, if everything goes as planned, we think our biggest markets will be from Poland and the Netherlands, besides Portugal."
© Horticolas Casal d’Avo Lda
The weather is not the only problem Portuguese cabbage growers have to deal with, as the availability of labor is also a major challenge, according to Matos. "This season, and for all seasons, our biggest enemy is the weather. Also, a major problem we're facing this year is the lack of people to work in the fields. We have products available to harvest, but not enough people to do the job. So, all work is a little bit delayed, and sometimes it's very hard to manage the daily work. These last seasons, I think it was our biggest challenge."
Both planting and harvest have been affected by the heavy rainfall in Portugal this season, Matos says: "This year, it rained non-stop for several months. The planting was overall delayed. Also, we did all of the planting at the same time, which gave us more quantity of the product in a shorter window of time. We don't think that it affected the quality of our products. It did affect our daily management and our sales with the clients."
© Horticolas Casal d’Avo Lda
"We'll start doing film-wrapped cabbages. We already have that machinery working. Also, we invested in a pre-cooling system to preserve the freshness of our vegetables immediately after harvest. This step is crucial for maintaining quality and significantly extending shelf life. For our clients, whether they're retailers, exporters, or end consumers, it means receiving produce that stays fresher for longer, with better texture, appearance, and nutritional value," Matos concludes.
For more information:
Ana Rita Matos
Horticolas Casal d'Avo Lda
Tel: +351 926 635 879
[email protected]
www.hca.com.pt
